QUALITY SEX ED & CONTRACEPTION, MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR ADOLESCENTS

GCAPP’S Statement on overturning Roe v. Wade

As an organization anchored in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and as the leading organization in Georgia for teen pregnancy prevention for 27 years, we know that with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn ROE v. Wade, information about contraception (and access to it) are more important than ever. GCAPP is a ‘prevention first’ organization, meaning that our work results in teen girls not becoming pregnant in the first place. Simply put, GCAPP’s work makes abortions unnecessary, but this issue is deeply intertwined with contraception and quality sex education.

About half of all teens have had sex by the time they reach 12th grade, but teen births have been on a consistent, significant downward spiral over the last 12 years because of better access to contraception, medically accurate information, and more frequent use of the most effective methods of birth control. Are these gains at risk for Georgia?

Today’s decision puts adolescent health advocates on alert. Contraception must not be restricted in any way. And GCAPP will work even harder to expand quality sex ed, which not only teaches young people about contraception, but healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, puberty, abstinence, and more. GCAPP is more determined than ever to provide quality sex ed and critical information about contraception. It is clearer than ever in any time in our history that the importance of the need for quality sex ed and contraception cannot be overstated.

— Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential