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ATLANTA, November 17, 2006 — Yesterday the Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report recommending that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) develop procedures to help assure the accuracy of abstinence education materials used in programs administered by the Administration of Children and Families (ACF). In October, the GAO had issued an opinion that abstinence education materials must contain medically accurate information about condoms as specified in the Public Health Service Act. The subsection of this law specifically referenced by the GAO includes a statement that “Educational materials...designed to address [sexually transmitted diseases] shall contain medically accurate information regarding the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of condoms in preventing the [sexually transmitted diseases] the materials are designed to address.”

Choosing the Best is committed to medical accuracy and supports government efforts to ensure medical accuracy in all sex education programs available to our nation’s youth. “In fact, in 2005, Choosing the Best implemented a rigorous process to ensure the medical accuracy of its programs,” explains company president Bruce Cook. “First, we created a Medical Advisory Board, comprised of a team of Ph.D. researchers and M.D.s who are experts in the area of sexual health. With their help, we identified the most current and credible research available, relying on sources such as the CDC or other government agency publications, as well as research from peer-reviewed, published journals. Second, all completed materials are carefully reviewed by this same medical team prior to being made available to the schools or other customers. Finally, Choosing the Best regularly updates materials to ensure that the latest medical information is reflected.”   

Choosing the Best is hopeful that the recent comments from the GAO will lead to increased medical accuracy and effectiveness of all sex education programs, ultimately helping teens make better choices. For example, explains Cook, “once teens are given the facts supported by the CDC that they can only reduce, not eliminate, the risks of pregnancy and STDs by using a condom, they increasingly choose abstinence as the best strategy for their health and future.”