The Impact of Relationship Intelligence Training
During the last decade Relationship Intelligence Training has been offered to more than 100,000 students ages 12 to 18 in New York and New Jersey with funding from the NJ Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Independent analysis of surveys by the New Jersey Department of Health before and after students received Relationship Intelligence education revealed significant (p<.001), dramatic increases in attitudes and intentions to delay sexual involvement.1
| 2000 & 2002 evaluations of Relationship Intelligence Training by NJ Dept. of Health |
| Statement |
Increase |
Not having sex is a normal part of dating.
My friends think it's okay for people my age to not have sex.
I plan to not have sex when I date. |
128%
66%
72% |
| 2003 & 2007 evaluations of Relationship Intelligence Training by NJ Dept. of Health |
| Statement |
Increase |
Using drugs or alcohol increases your chance of becoming sexually active.
I plan to abstain from sex until I get married.
A teen who has had sex is able to stop being sexually active. |
86%
63%
87% |
Since 1998 when the Institute for Relationship Intelligence began to offer educational and after-school youth development programs in Jersey City and Paterson, birth rates among unmarried 10-19 year-olds in Jersey City dropped by 37% and in Paterson by 29% (1998 level compared with 2001 to 2005). In demographically similar Elizabeth, Plainfield and Passaic City, which had no risk-avoidance education program, the reductions were only 10%. Overall, births to unmarried girls ages 10-19 in New Jersey dropped 18%.2
Relationship Intelligence Training Education Saves Taxpayers MILLIONS
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has estimated that teen childbearing costs in New Jersey cost NJ taxpayers $3.3 billion between 1991 to 2004, or $27,341 per birth. 3The average 15% extra reduction in teen births in Jersey City and Paterson (above the statewide average reduction of 18%) contributed to by intensive RIT healthy relationship/risk-avoidance education (775 of 1705 less births from 2001-2005) has resulted in a projected savings of $21,189,275 in federal, state and local expenditures for public health care, child welfare, incarceration and lost tax revenue over a 14 year period.
- Report for NJ Department of Health prepared by Dr. Joseph Donnelly, Montclair State University.
- http://njshad.doh.state.nj.us/birmunage1220.html
- http://teenpregnancy.org/costs/tables.asp
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