Condom delivery to Capitol highlights needed support of family planning services

For Immediate Release
Contact: Erin Deppé, 916.446.5247

Condom delivery to Capitol highlights needed
support of family planning services

SACRAMENTO – Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) today delivered condoms to state legislators to mark National Condom Week, Feb. 14-20, and to call attention to the need to fully fund cost-effective family planning services.

"Every year Planned Parenthood is here to help almost a million Californians learn to be healthy," said Kathy Kneer, President of PPAC. "We provide family planning services to women and men including life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraception, STD testing and treatment."

Family planning services like those provided by Planned Parenthood are cost effective for the state. For every $1 spent of family planning, the state receives a $9 federal match – one of the highest federal matches of any state program. Yet, the governor in his budget proposed a rollback of family planning funding.

"Given the current fiscal situation, why would the Governor leave all that federal money on the table?" Kneer questioned.

A cut to family planning services would actually increase the deficit, Kneer said. Denying Californians contraceptive services is over five times more costly to the state. According to a report by the University of California, family planning services save an estimated $5.33 in future medical and social service costs that would have resulted from an unintended pregnancy.

The Planned Parenthood "condom grams" included an assortment of condoms and a message urging the State Legislature to maintain family planning funds. The packages also include information about services provided to our patients at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout the state.

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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California's nine separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and comprehensive sex education.