Virginia Values

Judges Appear Hesitant on Virginia 'Partial Birth' Abortion Ban
Virginia's attempt to revive its law restricting abortion received a skeptical reception from a panel of federal judges here Thursday in a key test of how the Supreme Court's decision to uphold federal abortion limits will affect restrictions imposed by the states.

Abstinence-Only Sex-Ed Funds Cut Off by Kaine
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has cut off state funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, citing recent studies finding that teenagers should also be taught about birth control and condoms to protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Forum Helps Arlington's Teens Have More Say
Teenagers don't think they have much control over their lives. Schools set their daytime schedules; parents dictate the rules at home. There are guidelines for when they can drive and what movies they're allowed to see. That doesn't leave a lot of opportunity for teens to make their views heard, but an Arlington group is trying to change that. The 24-member Teen Network Board meets monthly during the school year to discuss teen issues, explore community activities and provide a forum for young people to dialogue with adults and make themselves heard.

City of Alexandria’s Adolescent Pregnancy Rate in Decline
The City of Alexandria’s latest adolescent pregnancy rate data indicates a sharp decline over the past 10 years, showing a 28 percent drop in the overall rate since 1995. The City has addressed this issue by providing ongoing support to the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), a coalition of interested citizens, agencies, and community groups engaged in an aggressive education and outreach program to promote the message that parents, families and adolescents themselves all play a critical role in preventing adolescent pregnancy.