Review of the Role of Faith- and Community-Based Organizations in Providing Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Abstract

This article reviews the role of faith- and community-based organizations in providing comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents in the United States. To gather information about these organizations, a broad approach was used that included a formal literature review, systematic searches through organizational Web sites, and the convening of a panel of experts who support comprehensive sexuality education in faith- and community-based organizations. This paper provides an overview of the context in which community- and faith-based organizations provide comprehensive sexuality education, the various approaches taken, and the challenges, needs, and recommendations for these programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Community-based organizations
• faith-based organizations
• comprehensive sexuality education

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Susheela Singh for helpful input throughout the development of this report. The authors also appreciate the participation of the expert panel members listed in Appendix 1. The research on which this article is based was supported by the Ford Foundation. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funder or the expert panel members.

Notes

1. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America support youth development programs called Smart Girls and Passport to Manhood that have sexuality education components; perhaps in an effort to avoid controversy, the sexuality education content is only briefly described in published documents.