Support Responsible Sex Education: The Healthy Youth Act
We have a public health crisis in Wisconsin.  A 2008 report released by the WI Division of Public Health found that 45 percent of high schoolers self-report that they are currently sexually active. Of those Wisconsin teens who reported having sex, only 61 percent used a condom during their last sexual counter. The result of this risky sexual behavior is unintended pregnancies and STDs.
For the first time in 14 years, teen birth rates in Wisconsin are rising. This year, 11,000 Wisconsin teens will become pregnant, and almost all of these pregnancies will be unintended. In addition to skyrocketing teen pregnancies, STDs like Chlamydia are rapidly spreading among youth ages 15-24 in Wisconsin. The U.S. average rate for Chlamydia is 370 cases / 100,000 people. 65 of WI’s 72 counties have rates that are higher than the national average, and 38 counties have rates at least DOUBLE the national average.
Now is time to start taking Wisconsin youth and their health seriously.
High rates of teen pregnancy and STDs are critical public health problems that result in poor health outcomes for young adults and children alike. We must support policies that give our young people the information and skills they need to make healthy decisions—now and throughout their lives.
On September 21, 2009, State Representative Tamara Grigsby and State Senator Lena Taylor circulated LRB 3380/The Healthy Youth Act for co-sponsorship.
The Healthy Youth Act will ensure that the most current standards of sex education are being taught in Wisconsin and that public schools are using programs proven to reduce teen pregnancy and STD rates by: Encourage state legislators in your area to co-sponsor the Healthy Youth Act. Comprehensive Sexuality Education is age-appropriate, scientifically-based and comprehensive. It includes information about both abstinence and birth control as ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STDs). Abstinence-only education has failed young people. It's time to give public school students the tools and information they need to make healthy decisions now and in the future.
To learn more about the Healthy Youth Act, check out our fact sheets:
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