NEWS RELEASE Contact: Heather Malloy
February 27, 2007 202-347-6464 ext 306
“Value your life” is one of the messages that will be echoed as
organizations join together for Abstinence Awareness week”.
Washington, DC- In a society that routinely promotes sexual themes to young children, a
group of organizations has decided to focus on a different option. Ultra Teen Choice, a grant
recipient of the Together is Better campaign and, the DC Metropolitan Healthy Marriage &
Relationships Coalition (DCHMRC) a TIB partner have joined forces with several organizations
to promote “Abstinence Awareness Week” Washington, DC. from March 10-March 17, 2007.
This group consists of DCHMRC member organizations and other power organizations in the
community including: Concerned Black Men-National Organization, East of the River Clergy
Police Community Partnership, Pilgrim Baptist Church and East Capitol Center for Change.
These organizations are taking an active lead in their efforts to provide teens and young adults
with positive alternative options to prevent HIV by communicating the importance of abstinence
from sex before marriage.
The purpose of Abstinence Awareness Week is to increase awareness that abstinence
from sex outside of marriage is a desirable choice for individuals to make, and to provide a forum
for those who have made that decision to be heard.
Abstinence Awareness Week is designed to support and encourage youth who have made
abstinence from pre-marital sexual activity their standard. These youth are excellent role models
that will serve as youth ambassadors for Abstinence Awareness.
Fifty two percent of Washington D.C. high school students have never had sex,
according to the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which is a sixteen percent drop
from two years prior. Abstinence Week activities will promote and continue the expansion of this
positive trend. Through advocating for programs that support and provide character based,
directive instruction and support to enable youth to remain abstinent from sex before marriage
and from drugs, alcohol and tobacco our youth can embrace healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
Ultra Teen Choice offers teens and young adults an alternative to having sexual relations before marriage. By explaining the pros of
abstaining from sexual activity, and by explaining the risks of engaging in sexual relationships, and by providing college mentors plus
peer counselors, Ultra Teen Choice is hopeful that their intended message will resound in each of the youngster’s lives.
Together is Better (TIB) is a citywide campaign that promotes healthy relationships and marriages. TIB partner, the DC
Metropolitan Healthy Marriage & Relationships Coalition (DCHMRC) is made up of service providers that offer an array of
relationship and marriage education training and supportive services to youth and families in the District of Columbia.
