The Case for Evidence

Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I feel like dancing in the streets. Dancing, I say. Naked. With confetti made from abstinence only sex education pamphlets raining down upon my head.

Okay, maybe I'll spare you (and the neighbors) the naked part.

But guess what? The Obama Administration, through the Office for Public Health and Science, has announced their funding plan for Teenage Pregnancy Prevention. The key part of the announcement is the majority of funding will be going to replicate Evidence Based Programs. That's right - if your program works, then you'll be getting funding from the federal government. If you're program doesn't work, then you be getting an invitation to fuck right off.

Here's the part that has me dancing in the streets:
Under this announcement, a total of $75,000,000 is available on a competitive basis for the purpose of replicating evidence-based programs that have been proven through rigorous evaluation to reduce teenage pregnancy, behavioral risks underlying teenage pregnancy, or other associated risk factors. Funding is available for two broad program types: 1) curriculum-based programs that seek to educate young people about topics such as responsible behavior, relationships, and pregnancy prevention and 2) youth development programs that seek to reduce teenage pregnancy and a variety of risky behaviors through a broad range of approaches.
You get that? It doesn't require that specific ideology be taught. It doesn't require that the word "abstinence" be used (or stricken) from the curriculum. It simply requires that programs that request funding must "have been proven through rigorous evaluation to reduce pregnancy, behavioral risks underlying teenage pregnancy, or other associated risk factors." You want funding for your abstinence only sex education program? No problem. Simply prove that it ACTUALLY WORKS. and the federal government will consider your request. You want funding for your let-it-all-hang-out-leave-no-testicle-unturned sex education program? No problem. Simply prove that it ACTUALLY WORKS.

I love that the OPHS has announced that funding for programs meant to prevent teen pregnancy must be proven to actually work before they get the money. Using the evidence based approach helps to limit ideological bias in the process, and - BEST OF ALL - may actually help young men and women make better choices when it comes to love, sex and reproduction.

w00t!

7 comments:

The Mechanicky Gal said...

I'm dancing with you. Naked, too, if it gets the word out!

Warner (aka ntsc) said...

What is the world coming to if we require science rather than faith?

I don't dance and the last time I was publicly naked was at a Club Med a long time ago and I was a bit drunk, but the sentiment is there.

neurondoc said...

Shocking -- evidence-based science??? I am speechless. And NOT naked (which is a good thing).

:-)

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

About fucking time.

Dr. Phil

Janiece said...

Dr. Phil, does that mean you'll join us in dancing in the street (being nekkid optional)?

Matt said...

I'm seeing a grant proposal taking form . . . A study on the effect public naked cavorting has on local birth rates and public lewdness arrests . . .

Janiece said...

Vagabond, at this point, I'm thinking a decrease in the former, and an increase in the latter.

But I have no evidence.