CLEVELAND — A school-based sex education program is showing promise. Seven inner ring school districts in Cuyahoga County were targeted because of their teen birth rates and, since the program started, there has been a drop in birth rates for teens.

“We hope that the information we have given teens is making a difference. We know that our program has dispelled a lot of myths they had about sex and pregnancy,” says Gloria Agosto Davis, Teen Wellness Grant Coordinator.

The program is through the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and Beech Brook provides the sexual health instruction in the schools.

The schools that took part were Bedford, Brooklyn, East Cleveland, Euclid, Richmond Heights, South Euclid, Lyndhurst and Warrensville Heights. Nearly all of them saw pregnancy rates drop.

Across the county, from 2006 to 2012, numbers have dropped in all school districts. This program stresses self-esteem, behavior, consequences, preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The program has already taken a 25 percent cut in county funding for next year, which may impede plans to expand the program.

WKYC