Public health officials in Wyandotte and Johnson counties are now looking for funds to continue sexual education programs after the state of Kansas did not apply for a federal grant.
Kansas is one of seven states that decided not to apply for funding this year from the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
"Well, we were really disappointed because the state is the one that introduced us to these funds five years ago, and we have made very good use of them," said Greg Stephenson, the personal health services manager at the Wyandotte County Public Health Department.
The state has received almost $500,000 in PREP funds each of the past five years. Traditionally, the state has applied for the grant and distributed the funds among counties. Wyandotte and Johnson counties have been the main recipients.
"We feel if young people are going to be sexually active, then they need to understand why it's important to protect themselves and how to protect themselves not only from pregnancy but also from sexually transmitted infections," said Lougene Marsh, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
41 Action News spoke to Cassie Sparks, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She said the state did not apply for PREP because of a change in policy but the state “will be assisting the local health departments and any local health departments that want to apply for this."
Both Wyandotte and Johnson counties' sexual education programs are abstinence-based, meaning abstinence is discussed in addition to contraception and sexual decisions.
Over the past five years, pregnancy rates in both counties have dropped. However, both Stephenson and Marsh said it is unclear if PREP is solely responsible.
"Attitudes about sex and reproduction in the United States are very controversial and very touchy, sensitive kinds of things. I think kids not only have a lack of access to accurate information, they get a lot of misinformation and a lot of conflicting information," said Stephenson.
In 2013, PREP funds were used to create a highly controversial poster shown to students at Hocker Grove Middle School in Shawnee Mission. Parents were upset because of the terms used when asking how to show someone's affection.
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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at Ariel.Rothfield@KSHB.com.
