Congress enacted the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform) which featured an education program on abstinence (no sex outside of marriage). The purpose of the program is to reduce out-of-wedlock births and sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). An authorization of $50 million per year for five years is being issued to states through block grants to implement abstinence education programs. The Louisiana Governor’s Program on Abstinence promotes the ideals of the Federal Abstinence Education Initiative (A-H).

The $50 million of federal funds is divided among the states based on comparative figures of population and rates of teenage pregnancy. Louisiana, with its high incidence of teenage pregnancy, ranked ninth in the country for funding -- $1.6 million each year for five years.
Sources of funds in Louisiana can be from state government, local governments, and private sources and foundations. The money can be in cash (direct appropriations or donations) or in kind (dollar value) of volunteers, use of space or equipment, public service announcements in the media, etc.

While other states have chosen to rely solely on community projects as their means of implementing abstinence-only programs, Louisiana has embarked on a multi-faceted approach consisting of an abstinence-only curriculum for junior high, high school, and college age students, GPA Clubs for high school students, GPA Collegiate Clubs, a clearinghouse center/website, teacher certification, and community based projects. The five components in the Louisiana model encompass a wide range of activities to involve thousands of Louisiana citizens during the life of the federal program. The GPA comes under the authority of the Governor's Office of Community Programs.

The GPA has produced a 12-week curriculum (one class per week) for junior high schools in Louisiana. Over 50 parish school boards have adopted our curriculum, and it is in use in all 64 Louisiana parishes. Over 40,000 students used our curriculum during the 2004-2005 school year. We are recruiting volunteer teachers to present our abstinence curriculum one hour per week in health/P.E. classes at the seventh grade level.

The National Abstinence Clearinghouse has rated the GPA website as one of the best abstinence sites on the web. Abstinencedu.com contains information on abstinence for students, parents, and teachers, allows students to ask questions and join in discussions on abstinence, and contains links to many abstinence-related sites on the web.

The GPA holds training workshops every month to certify those individuals with the desire to bring the authentic abstinence message to our youth. Teaching materials and student workbooks are offered free of charge to each teacher who completes the GPA two day teacher training certification course. As interest in the GPA curriculum and program has grown governments, health care providers, youth leaders, and educators nationally and internationally have requested teacher certification training from the GPA.

The community projects are designed to bring the abstinence message to high-risk teenagers through new and innovative approaches, conducted by non-profit organizations in the state.

The GPA is a health and education program committed to promoting and publicizing the benefits of abstinence. Under the limits imposed by the Constitution, the GPA funds may not be used for activities, events or materials that include religious messages or otherwise promote or advance religion. The GPA does not discourage or encourage private religious exercise. If you have any spiritual or religious questions that arise in the context of events sponsored by the GPA, the GPA encourages you to consult with a spiritual advisor from your faith or system of belief.
If you have any questions or comments about these or other issues, you may contact the GPA at 225.342.5818 or 150 Third Street, Suite 404, Baton Rouge, LA 70801.

An entire generation has now witnessed the tragedy of social planning gone amuck. Out-of-wedlock births and sexually transmitted diseases have reached staggering proportions. We see first-hand the results of a quarter century of dismal social engineering.
It's time for a rebirth of truth to lead us back to healthy lifestyles. It is incumbent upon us to lead a fallen generation back to ordered liberty. It's time for a return to responsibility, healthy lifestyles, and a bright future. It's time for Abstinence -- The New Sexual Revolution!