MAP Advocate
November 9, 2007
Vol. 13. No. 27

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In This Issue:

1. MAP Advocate Changes Underway
2. Minnesota Update: State Doesn’t Apply for Abstinence-Only Funding
3. Federal Update: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding Increased
4. Federal Update: Congresswoman McCollum Co-Sponsors Two Pieces of HIV Legislation
5. Announcement: World AIDS Day 2007
6. Announcement: Watch “Sex Ed and the State” for Free on November 12
   
   

MAP Advocate Changes Underway

The MAP public policy department is “jazzing up” the MAP Advocate. Public policy staff held planning meetings with members from the community to gather feedback on this process. The feedback that you provided on the MAP Advocate survey will also be included in this process. Look for changes in the coming month, including a possible name change and new graphics. Change is a good thing!

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Minnesota Update: State Doesn’t Apply for Abstinence-Only Funding

Minnesota has not requested federal money that can only be used for abstinence-only sex education. In the past the state has taken close to $500,000 per year to support abstinence-only programs. These programs have been found ineffective, providing misinformation about sexual health practices. Studies have found that abstinence-only programs have no effect on adolescent sexual behavior.

The Sex Ed for Life Coalition, which MAP co-convenes with the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), supports comprehensive sex education. Comprehensive sex education, which includes abstinence but also provides information on contraception, STIs, and healthy relationships, is not supported by a federal or state funding stream.

State says no thanks to no-sex funding
By Josephine Marcotty, Star Tribune
October 19, 2007

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Federal Update: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding Increased

Recently, the U.S. Senate finally approved its fiscal year 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. The approved bill called for a $28 million cut in the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) program. This summer the House of Representatives approved a $28 million increase for the CBAE program, even though a 10-year evaluation revealed that abstinence-only programs don’t work.

On November 1, House and Senate conferees met to consider the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations bill, and the two chambers sorted out the discrepancies between their respective bills. Disappointingly, lawmakers ignored the Senate’s decision to cut funding for the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) program, and instead followed a disappointing decision in the House of Representatives bill and increased funding for these failed programs by $28 million to $141 million. CBAE funds support abstinence-only-until-marriage programs based on the most restrictive guidelines.

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Federal Update: Congresswoman McCollum Co-Sponsors Two Pieces of HIV Legislation

Congresswoman Betty McCollum has signed onto the Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA) and the Africa Health Capacity Investment Act.

The ETHA legislation, if passed, will provide Medicaid coverage for low-income HIV-infected individuals. The Early Treatment for HIV Act is cost effective, improves health, reduces HIV-related deaths, and helps stop HIV. Click here to read more about ETHA. (PDF) Congresswoman McCollum joins Congressman Ramstad and Senator Coleman as a co-sponsor of the ETHA legislation.

The Africa Health Capacity Investment Act, if passed, will amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa in the effort to achieve internationally recognized goals in the treatment and prevention of HIV.

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Announcement: World AIDS Day 2007

On Friday, November 30, The HIV/AIDS Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, The HIV Services Planning Council, Hennepin County Medical Center Positive Care Clinic, and the Minnesota AIDS Project are commemorating World AIDS Day 2007 at Intermedia Arts with an event focusing on hope for the future of people living with HIV through cutting edge research.

"Hope for the future, stopping HIV through cutting-edge research" will feature a presentation on new, potent HIV medications and cutting-edge HIV treatment research in the areas of gene therapy, vaccine research, and microbicide development by Martin Delaney, founder of Project Inform in California, alongside community speakers who will share the messages of hope they are imparting to the HIV community.

Get more information.

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Announcement: Watch “Sex Ed and the State” for Free on November 12

Sex Ed and the State
November 12, 2007
Coffman Theater, Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota
300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis
6:30 p.m.
Free

When a bill is supported by strong research, a surgeon generals report, and an overwhelming majority of Americans - what happens when it’s introduced in the Minnesota state legislature? Attend this free documentary showing to learn more about the debate over the best strategy to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. To watch a one minute clip and for more information about the film, visit www.sexedmovie.com

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Visit the MAP Advocate archive to see what you missed.

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For more information about what's of interest to you at the Minnesota State Capitol, visit the Web sites of our allies at OutFront Minnesota and Sex Ed for Life.

MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It isavailable through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Public Policy Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.

MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-373-2437
1-800-248-2437

public.policy@mnaidsproject.org

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Last Updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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