Program FAQs

1. Q: Choosing the Best is an “abstinence-centered” sex education program. What does this mean?

A: “Abstinence-centered” sex education is a wholistic, “risk avoidance” approach that strongly promotes abstinence as the best and healthiest choice, while also teaching students about goal-setting, healthy relationships, refusal skills, and character building.  Choosing the Best informs students about the significant risks associated with casual sex, including unplanned pregnancy, STDs, and negative emotional consequences. Choosing the Best also emphasizes the benefits of waiting, empowering students to make an informed choice about their sexual behavior.

2. Q: Does Choosing the Best provide students with information about contraception?

A: Yes! Numerous contraceptive methods are discussed, along with complete information about the effectiveness and limitations of each with respect to both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Choosing the Best shows, for example, that when used consistently and correctly, condoms are most effective at reducing the risk of HIV (85% versus no condom at all) but are less effective in protecting against STDs such as chlamydia, herpes, and HPV.¹ The facts presented are supported by the CDC, illustrating the CDC’s conclusion that “condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD²” and teaching that only abstinence offers complete, 100% protection against both STDs and pregnancy.  Choosing the Best fully educates about contraception but does not advocate or demonstrate contraceptive use.

3. Q: Is Choosing the Best evidence-based?

Yes! A peer-reviewed, published study found that Choosing the Best successfully reduces the initiation of teen sex. The research, which utilized a rigorous, randomized, controlled study design, evaluated the Choosing the Best high school curriculum among nearly 1,200 9th grade students. The results indicated that students who received Choosing the Best were nearly 1.5 times more likely to delay the onset of sexual behavior than students in the control group who did not receive the program, at the end of the school year. These results were achieved in an actual school setting among a diverse student population, and are consistent with earlier studies on a Choosing the Best middle school program, which was found to reduce the initiation of teen sex by 47% versus the control.

4. Q: Is Choosing the Best medically accurate?

A: Yes! The Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has completed a thorough and objective review of the medical and scientific information in Choosing the Best programs and found them to be medically accurate.

5. Q: Do teens respond well to the abstinence-centered message in Choosing the Best?

A: Yes! Normal adolescent curiosity is a part of growing up, and the media message that pre-marital sex is expected, fun and has no consequences has a powerful influence on young people. However, when given the facts concerning the physical and emotional risks of sexual activity and the rewards of being abstinent – being able to pursue goals and dreams, often not possible with an unplanned pregnancy or disease – the majority of teens today are choosing abstinence. Recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the rates of teen sexual activity have dropped by nearly 11 percent between 1991 and 2007, and that the majority of teens today—52 percent—have not had sex.³

Choosing the Best knows that not every teen will abstain from having sex, just as not every teen that knows the risks of smoking will choose not to smoke. However, the goal of abstinence education is prevention and risk avoidance, consistent with our message to teens about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. 

Choosing the Best also addresses the needs of students who have already been sexually active by teaching that students can still choose—and benefit from — choosing abstinence from this day forward (i.e., “renewed virginity”).  Studies have shown that students who receive abstinence education are just as likely to use contraception if they do become sexually active.

6. Q: What topics are presented in Choosing the Best programs?

A: Choosing the Best programs are multi-dimensional and cover a number of critical topics in helping equip teens to make the best choice – abstinence until marriage – to avoid the risk of STDs, negative emotional effects, and teen pregnancy. Choosing the Best offers five age-appropriate programs for middle and high school students and provides sex and relationship education content in nine areas: Risks (emotional, STDs, teen pregnancy), Rewards (decision making, goal setting, marriage planning), Relationship Education (friendships, understanding guys and girls, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, preventing sexual abuse and date rape), Alcohol (dangers of mixing alcohol and sex), Refusal Skills (setting boundaries, developing verbal skills and assertiveness skills), Pledge (making a commitment to abstinence), Character Development (responsibility, self-respect, courage, perseverance, compassion, respect), Parent Involvement (parent training and homework interviews), and Building Self-esteem (and appreciating unique qualities, interests, or skills).

7. Q: Are Choosing the Best Programs “fear” or “shame-based?”

A: No! Choosing the Best provides students with necessary information about the realistic risks of casual sex along with the rewards of delaying sexual activity. The messages in the Choosing the Best programs are “values neutral,” i.e. they are based on well-documented medical facts about the healthiest choices, rather than suggesting what is or isn’t morally appropriate. Choosing the Best programs have been carefully reviewed and deemed “medically accurate” by the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

8. Q: Why does Choosing the Best promote abstinence “until marriage?”

A: According to the CDC, the most reliable way to avoid the risk of an STD is to be abstinent until you enter into a mutually long-term, mutually monogamous relationship (as is typically found in marriage), with an uninfected partner, and remain faithful in that relationship.⁵ The emotional effects of being involved with someone sexually and then having that relationship end can be devastating, regardless of age. Even if a person has reached an age where they are emotionally more mature and better able to cope with these effects, the physical risks of STDs are still present – regardless of age – and can significantly affect a person’s health and life.

9. Q: Does the abstinence “until marriage” message apply to homosexual teens who are living in states where they are not allowed to marry?

A: Yes! Like heterosexual teens, homosexual teens are at significant risk of contracting STDs through casual sex.  According to the CDC,  “the surest way to avoid transmission of STDs is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected⁵.”   This is true regardless of sexual orientation.  Typically, a “long-term, mutually monogamous relationship” is most concretely associated with and most easily represented by the term “marriage.”  However, the health message is the same, even when a person cannot legally marry. 

10. Q: Are Choosing the Best programs “values neutral?”

A: Yes! The messages in the Choosing the Best programs are based on well-documented medical facts about the healthiest choices, rather than suggesting what is or isn’t morally appropriate. 

11. Q: Are the Choosing the Best programs based on religion?

A: No! Choosing the Best programs are based on well-documented medical facts and do not include any references to religion. Choosing the Best programs are about promoting health for our teens. Although some teens that choose abstinence may also be influenced by their personal religious convictions, Choosing the Best is about making healthy choices to be free from the risks of STDs, unplanned pregnancy and negative emotional consequences. It is about freedom to pursue future dreams and goals, regardless of religious preference or conviction.

12. Q: Do communities really want abstinence-centered education?

A: Yes! According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, over 90% of parents and teens think teens should be given a strong message about the importance of abstinence, at least until they are out of high school.⁶
Parents strongly support abstinence education over comprehensive sex education. In a 2007 national Zogby poll:

• Parents preferred their child receive abstinence education over comprehensive sex education by a 2:1 margin.
• 8 out of 10 parents think it’s important for their teen to wait until they’re married to have sex.
• 8 out of 10 parents want schools to emphasize promoting abstinence over contraceptive use.
• Parents overwhelmingly support the abstinence education approach toward discussing contraception:
• 9 out of 10 parents want their teens to be taught how often condoms fail to prevent pregnancy based upon typical use and about the limitations of condoms in preventing specific STDs.
• 2 out of 3 parents think the “wait to have sex” message ends up being lost when programs demonstrate and encourage the use of contraception.
• 8 out of 10 parents think teens will not use a condom every single time.

Implementation FAQs

1. Q: What are sources of funding for Choosing the Best programs?

A: Many school districts view Choosing the Best as a supplemental textbook budget item and as such fund Choosing the Best programs within their existing budget. However, there are also opportunities to apply for various federal, state, and local grants.

One of the most promising grants is the recently reinstated Title V. Now federal law as part of the recent health care legislation, Title V provides block grants to states specifically for abstinence education under A-H criteria identical to that previously required in section 510 of the Welfare Reform Act. Choosing the Best meets these A-H criteria, and has a documented history of success implementing Title V grants.

For more information about using grants as a source of funds for Choosing the Best programs, please contact us at 1-800-774-BEST (2378) and request to speak with the Regional Director for your state.  He/she will personally assist you in determining grant opportunities.

2. Q: For what age group(s) are Choosing the Best programs targeted and what are the key differences among the programs?

A: Middle School programs include: Choosing the Best WAY (grade 6); Choosing the Best PATH (grade 7); and Choosing the Best LIFE (grade 8); High School Programs include: Choosing the Best JOURNEY (grades 9-10); and Choosing the Best SOUL MATE (grades 11-12).

All five curricula utilize Best Practices to most effectively provide abstinence and relationship education. However, the emphasis of WAY, PATH, LIFE, and JOURNEY is on empowering students to choose abstinence, while SOUL MATE focuses on teaching valuable relational skills necessary for a successful marriage, of which abstinence is a component.

WAY, PATH, LIFE, and JOURNEY each cover the risks of teen sexual behavior, the rewards of abstinence, peer pressure and refusal skills, an abstinence pledge, character education, building self-esteem, relationship education, and include parent interview assignments. However, the information in each of these programs is presented in a manner that is age-appropriate and maximizes learning for students given their stage of development. The key differences are the videos used, classroom exercises and the age-appropriate way the issues are discussed and presented. For example, the CTB WAY program, for 6th graders, covers making good decisions and developing the qualities of a good friend, important topics for the younger age groups. CTB PATH, for 7th grade students, provides a strong emphasis on teen role models who are choosing abstinence. Both WAY and PATH utilize experiential learning techniques to capture the attention of these young students. Choosing the Best LIFE, for 8th graders, provides an in-depth discussion of key issues affecting the sexual decision making of this age group, such as the use of alcohol, while JOURNEY for 9th graders expands the discussion to topics such as date rape and pornography. Choosing the Best SOUL MATE inspires upper high school students to develop the communication skills and personal qualities essential for successful relationships of all kinds — with parents, peers, co-workers, teachers — and ultimately, for a lasting marriage. A logical sequel to CTB abstinence programs for younger teens, SOUL MATE continues to emphasize that sexual abstinence is critical to preparing for a lifelong, lasting relationship.

For maximum impact, it is recommended that all five programs (including SOUL MATE) be used simultaneously and consecutively (referred to as a “scope and sequence” approach) to give students an age-appropriate, consistent, compelling message for abstinence during their critical adolescent years.

3. Q: Is teacher training required?

A: No, but it is highly recommended.  Each curriculum includes a detailed Leader’s Guide that provides teachers with a comprehensive lesson plan on how to cover each topic; therefore training is not required to teach any of the Choosing the Best curricula. However, post-training feedback from teachers consistently indicates that the training is extremely helpful in familiarizing them with the materials, provides a needed opportunity to practice teaching the class exercises, and ignites a passion for teaching the subject matter.  So to achieve the best results in the classroom, teacher training is highly recommended.

4. Q: Does Choosing the Best fulfill all state requirements? (i.e., is it state-approved?)

A: Choosing the Best is being used throughout the country, currently in 47 states. However, in some states, particular approval processes are required. To obtain more information about the requirements in your state, please contact our office at 1-800-774-BEST (2378).

5. Q: How do I present Choosing the Best to a school or school board?

A: Please contact our office at 1-800-774-BEST (2378) and request to speak with the Regional Director for your state. He/she will personally assist you in the best way to present Choosing the Best to your school or school board.

6. Q: How do I get parents involved?

¹ National Institutes of Health, 2001.  See also CDC, “Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases”.

² CDC, “Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.”

³ CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Summaries.

⁴ CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ NCTPTP, With One Voice 2007, http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/WOV2007_fulltext.pdf