To Battle Teen Pregnancy Crisis, Texas Builds $1.2 Million Abstinence-Only Website [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

You're a public health policymaker in Texas. Teenage girls in the state are getting knocked up at an alarming rate, then they're having babies and getting knocked up again. The data, along with the bulk of the scientific literature, suggest that the state's longstanding strategy of telling kids not to have sex isn't working.

Do you A.) come to terms with reality and embark on a campaign to teach kids about safe sex and the benefits of contraception; or B). declare jihad on family planning clinics and pour $1.2 million into an abstinence-only website and ad campaign?

Having trouble? Go back to the first sentence. Focus on the "Texas" part. The correct answer is clearly b.

The family planning cuts instituted by the state legislature over the past two legislative sessions have been well documented. The $1.2-million abstinence-only web campaign, ourtown4teens.org, rolled out this month.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/to_battle_teen_pregnancy_crisi.php .