2004 Articles

The Battle for Effective Sexuality Education

Friedman, Jennifer

The debate over sexuality education reveals important issues regarding government regulation of personal behavior and the role of values in social welfare policy. While often regulated to the realm of public health, the promotion of effective approaches to sexuality education is closely aligned with social work’s mission to empower clients and increase their access to resources and information. This article will cover historical trends in sexuality education, the current federal policy and alternatives, and discuss the limitations and subsequent consequences for future policy. Additionally, this article will highlight the important implications of the sexuality education debate for the social work profession.