Alachua

County Statistics
County Population: 
223,852
Number of Teen births, Girls Age 10-19, 2006: 
290
Average Number of Reported New AIDS Cases: 
58
Average Number of Reported New HIV Cases : 
44
Number of Reported Chlamydia Cases: 
1 383
Number of Reported Gonorrhea Cases: 
711
Planned Parenthood Programs: 

Safe Passages:  Safe Passages, a teen pregnancy prevention program, began in March 1992. Today, the Safe Passages Outreach Educator works with teen girls in Alachua County who are at risk for pregnancy. The Outreach Educator acts as a mentor and guides teen clients through a health education curriculum focusing on pregnancy prevention, self-esteem and goal setting. Teens are referred to the program by nurses, social workers, guidance counselors and family members. Counseling and education is provided via continuous face-to-face visits and follow-up support. This program is supported by United Way of North Central Florida.

RISKY (Responsible Investment in Sexual Knowledge for Youth) Business: RISKY Business, a free teen clinic, began in September 2000. This program combines health education and clinical services in an accessible, personalized manner. The RISKY Business Outreach Educator teaches Alachua County teens to navigate the "risky business" of adolescence and life circumstances that may put them at risk, in a way that promotes safety and security and promises healthier lives. RISKY Business provides a safe and confidential setting to receive no-cost clinical services and health education to young men and women. Services provided to RISKY Business clients include gynecological exams, male exams, contraception, pregnancy testing, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and HIV testing and counseling. This program is supported by the Alachua County Community Agency Partnership Program. 

Community Education:  The Education Department reaches out to the community to provide medically accurate, fact-based sexual health information. Community Education programs include: Health Education

Abstinence Only Programs Taught: 

Alachua County School Board Policy on Sexuality Education: It shall be the responsibility of the school to make students aware of the dangers and consequences of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, and other sexually transmissible diseases. The manner, scope, and levels at which this information will be presented shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee in consultation with instructional supervisors and principal(s). The sexes may be separated for presentation of sensitive materials.

The Superintendent or designee shall review curriculum frameworks which are prepared and distributed by the Florida Department of Education and related to AIDS education. If the curriculum frameworks are inconsistent with locally determined curriculum for AIDS education or are not reflective of local values and concerns, the Superintendent shall advise the School Board and provide recommendations for instructional activities.

A student shall be exempt from instructional activities on reproductive health or AIDS provided his/her parent(s) or legal guardian files a written request with the school principal.In compliance with State law, throughout instruction in AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education, when such instruction and course material contain instruction in human sexuality, a school shall:

A.  teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age children while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage;

B.  emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a sure way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy; sexually transmitted diseases; and other associated health problems;

C.  teach that each student has the power to control personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others;

D.  provide instruction and material that is appropriate for the grade and age of the student.  All course materials and verbal or visual instruction shall conform to the requisites and intent of all Florida law and the State Constitution. All instructional materials, including teachers' manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary instructional material, shall be available for inspection by parents or guardians of the children engaged in such classes.

F.S. 1003.42, 1003.46