Federal and State Funded Sexual Health Education Programs in Washington State

Working to Institutionalize Sex Education (WISE)

The WISE project aims to advance sustainable implementation of school-based sexuality education in seven states, and to surface nationally relevant lessons about how to institutionalize effective sex ed programs at the state and local levels.

Cardea and the Healthy Youth Alliance, in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, are working with partners throughout Washington State to provide capacity building and training to school teachers and administrators on science-based and effective sexual health education. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of youth in WA State public schools who have access to and receive comprehensive sexual health education.

Funding is provided by the Grove Foundation, Packard Foundation, and Ford Foundation.

Washington Youth Sexual Health Plan (WYSH)

The WYSH Plan is a guide for planning programs, advocating for policy, procuring funding, and educating stakeholders to support the sexual health of Washington's youth. It emphasizes the responsibility of state and local governments, schools, community-based organizations and adults to ensure the availability of accurate information, skill-building education, and quality health services for all youth. The plan also recognizes the importance of youth being centrally involved in defining their own needs and in identifying programs and policies that support their health.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Intiative Tier 1: Evidence-Based Programs

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW) is the lead agency among six Planned Parenthood affiliates that make-up the Northwest Coalition for Adolescent Health. This coalition collaborates in the implementation of the Tier 1 program. Coalition members include PPGNW, Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, Planned Parenthood of Columbia Willamette, Planned Parenthood of Montana, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon, and Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood.

The Tier 1 program targets high-risk African American, Native American, Russian, and Ukrainian youth in grades 7–12 living in both rural and urban communities with substantially high teen birth and pregnancy rates and health disparities. The coalition will implement Teen Outreach Program (TOP) at 73 schools and community agencies in 27 counties across five states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Approximately 2,000 youth will be served annually through the program.

Graduation, Reality and Dual Role Skills (GRADS)

Department of Health – Maternal and Child Health in collaboration with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will work in 15 school districts to provide training for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and fathers in positive self, pregnancy, parenting, and economic independence. GRADS programs include onsite childcare and skill building opportunities.

Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH)

Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction has continued federal funding with the CDC DASH program for support of efforts that promote the health and well‐being of children and adolescents to enable them to become healthy and productive adults. OSPI will continue work with Coordinated School Health programs throughout the state as well as continued support of HIV prevention education through training for delivery of the KNOW and Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) curricula.

Abstinence Education Programs Funded under Title V, Section 510 (Title V)

Title V is federal abstinence-only-until-marriage education funding and was originally introduced as part of the 1996 Welfare Reform Law. In the 2010 Affordable Care Act, funding for this program was extended for the next 5 years, 2010 – 2014. States that apply for these dollars must match $3 for every $4 federally funded. This funding stream includes strict guidelines that recipients must adhere to, including an eight-point definition of abstinence-only-until-marriage education.