WELFARE REFORM ACT OF 1996
(TITLE V)
A Definition of Sexual Abstinence Education

To be eligible for Federal Title V funding, a program must be educational or motivational and address the following points:

1. Have, as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social psychological and physical health gains to be realized by abstaining from premarital sexual activity.
2. Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school age children.
3. Teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of- wedlock pregnancies, sexually transmitted disease and associated health problems.
4. Teach that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity.
5. Teach that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.
6. Teach that bearing children out-of- wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents and society.
7. Teach young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increase vulnerability to sexual advances.
8. Teach the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.