The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) administers the Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) program, aiming to increase the number of youth who abstain from sexual activity and related risky behaviors. This initiative seeks to reduce out-of-wedlock births and sexually transmitted infections among adolescents. ​

Ohio's SRA program focuses on 32 Appalachian and eight urban counties identified by ODH as having higher rates of teen pregnancies or births. Local providers deliver a variety of abstinence education programs, including classroom sessions, webinars for professionals and parents, and workshops for teachers, community members, and parents. ​

The program emphasizes medically accurate, evidence-based approaches that teach youth to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. It also addresses the trauma needs of vulnerable youth and covers topics such as personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, and focusing on the future. ​

In 2021, Ohio passed the Parents Right to Know Act, mandating that public schools provide sexual risk avoidance education for middle and high school students. Schools are required to submit annual audits to the Ohio Department of Education to verify compliance.