The Department of Justice (DOJ) gave a $1.1 million grant to an abstinence-only organization, Best Friends, despite internal recommendations against the group. ABC News reports that personal ties between the Department of Justice official who authorized the grant and Best Friends President may have played a role in this decision. The grant awarded $1.1 million to Best Friends, twice the amount applied for by the organization.
ABC News reports that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquent Prevention at the DOJ ranked Best Friends’ application only 53 out of 104 and raised serious concerns that the group backed out of a federally mandated study on the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs.
According to RH Reality Check, the Department of Justice official who authorized the grant had even attended fundraising events for Best Friends.
According to Carpet Bagger, a Department of Justice employee resigned in protest over the grant decision.
According to federally funded studies, such as the one that Best Friends refused to participate in, as well as privately funded studies abstinence-only education programs have been proven ineffective time and time again at delaying teen sexual activity and preventing teen pregnancy.
