Thanks to Rebecca Karpinski, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, Vice President of Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness, for spending time with us at Global Gals on May 10, 2012. The statistics she presented were quite eye opening.
The Pacific Southwest Region includes San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties, and is the second largest Planned Parenthood organization in the country. With 19 health centers, the regions records 300,000 patient visits which is equivalent to about 150,000 people. Some of their services include annual exams, LEAPS, breast exams, STD testing, and rapid HIV testing. Just 5% of all services provided are related to pregnancy termination.
California provides Family PACT (Planning Access Care Treatment) to people at the 200% poverty level, which is about $20,000/year or less in annual incomke. People coming for PACT do not have to prove citizen status. 95% of the PACT program is paid with Federal and State tax-payer funds. If a women tests positive for pregnancy, her treatment and services are no longer paid by PACT.
About 12% of Planned Parenthood patients are male, but it varies by region. For example, in Cochella Valley, where most residents are migrant workers, more men come for services.
Did you know that Governor Ronald Reagan legalized abortion in California in 1968? And Governor Pete Wilson started Family PACT in the 1980’s? Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy organization, legally a 501c4. Within the Action Fund, you can find volunteer opportunities and election recommendations.
We talked a small bit about sex education within the schools and at home. Planned Parenthood trains San Diego Unified School District sex ed teachers that teach in the 6th, 8th, and 10-11th grades. California law states that the schools will teach comprehensive sex ed, however, every District makes its own decisions. The Planned Parenthood website has a parenting section with age appropriate information and talking points. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/parents/ Becca also recommended the book It’s So Amazing by Robie H. Harris.
Planned Parenthood’s Mission: Every Child is a Wanted Child