NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, has secured $150,000 in state funding for Decisions, Choices and Options.
The funding will be used to provide abstinence education and sexual risk avoidance (SRA) programs for youth in Middle Tennessee.
“This funding will increase opportunities for students to hear about the importance of healthy decision-making,” Doggett said. “Abstinence and sexual risk avoidance education are vital topics to encourage Tennessee students to lead healthy lives. I was proud to co-sponsor this appropriation, which will have a positive impact on youth across the state.”
Decisions, Choices and Options (DCO) works with public and private schools, after-school programs, homeschool groups and community organizations to encourage optimal health outcomes for youth by outlining the risks of early-onset sexual behavior.
The programs taught by DCO are medically accurate and meet state curriculum requirements, and the group’s instructors are certified Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialists by the country’s top SRA institute. Every year, DCO reaches more than 18,500 youth and students between the ages of 11 and 19 in Tennessee and several other states.
The appropriated funds are part of a $52.8 billion zero-debt balanced budget that was passed by the General Assembly in April. Republican priorities include significant investments in rural and behavioral health care, school safety, education and public safety.
State Rep. Clay Doggett represents House District 70, which includes Giles and part of Lawrence and Lincoln counties. He is chairman of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and also serves on the Criminal Justice Committee, Local Government Committee, and the Elections and Campaign Finance Subcommittee.