Rachel Lee Brady | February 27, 2018 | SHARE: 
NC Family has good news to share: Pregnancy resource centers and any interested qualifying organization in North Carolina will soon have additional grant funding available to teach Sexual Risk Avoidance (think “A” for abstinence) to local youth.
We have been reporting on SHIFT NC’s efforts to expand Planned Parenthood’s Get Real curriculum in Cumberland County, and how the Cumberland County Board of Education ousted Get Real after an outcry from hundreds of parents and concerned citizens. SHIFT NC had also tried to implement the curriculum in Onslow County, where local citizens took similar action to stop it. Not only are we thankful that these efforts by the nation’s largest abortion provider Planned Parenthood have been halted, but we are also grateful that pregnancy resource centers and other organizations will soon have more grant funds available for educating our youth on the benefits of Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA). Below are details on two different federal funding streams that may soon be available for SRA instruction in North Carolina.
Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program
The U.S. Congress has approved a $10 million increase for the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program, which brings the funding level of the program to $25 million. The purpose of the program is “to fund projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teaches participants how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity.” Any organization seeking to implement SRA programs can apply for the funding. More information about the grant requirements for the past year can be found on this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services webpage. Once the funding announcement is made for this year’s grant on March 26, information on how to apply will be available here.
One to watch: Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Grant Program
Congress also reauthorized funding for the Federal Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Grant Program, which provides North Carolina with over $2 million annually for SRA programs. In recent years, these funds were available only to state governments and in North Carolina, were restricted for use in communities with the highest adolescent pregnancy rates, among other contributing factors. A big change that occurred this year is a new provision allowing other organizations within the state to apply for this funding if the State does not apply. Exact dates are not yet available on the deadline for states to apply, however, when it becomes known, information will be posted on the Family & Youth Services Bureau website. If the State of North Carolina does not apply for this funding, other qualifying organizations in the state will be able to apply.
To receive the most up-to-date information on these grants, you can contact our friends at Ascend, a national SRA advocacy group, at info@weascend.org. In addition, you can attend one of Ascend’s upcoming training events to receive certification and help with the grant process. Make sure you’re receiving NC Family emails and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for updates on this story.
