What
is ... Reproductive Health/Family Planning?
The Reproductive Health/Family Planning Program is a statewide clinic-based primary care program that provides complete reproductive health/family planning services to promote optimal health. Services include education, counseling, medical, and referral services that enable people to make voluntary, informed decisions about the quantity and spacing of their children.
Why is this program needed?
Family planning clinics play a key role in health care delivery. The clinics often are the entry point into the health care system, and may be the only source of health care for the young, for those with low incomes, for the uninsured, and the underinsured.
What
are the goals of the program?
Reproductive Health/Family Planning Program services provide individuals with the information and means to exercise personal choice in determining the number and spacing of their children. Research indicates that women who can plan and space their pregnancies are likely to have healthier babies. Improved birth outcomes include a reduction of birth defects, decreases in infant mortality, and decreases in the incidence of low birth weight babies. An important social statistic also indicates that children born to individuals who are prepared for them, are less likely to be abused and/or neglected. The program promotes responsible and healthy lifestyles by providing accurate information, education, counseling, and medical services to people regarding their reproductive health and family planning options. Program services also help prevent:
- The spread of sexually transmitted infections by providing screening.
- Unintended pregnancy by providing access to a range of safe and reliable contraceptive methods, and education regarding the correct use of those methods.
- Disease by screening for breast and cervical cancers.
What
has the project achieved?
The Reproductive Health/Family Planning Program continues to increase access to health care for individuals who might otherwise not be served. In 2008, the program provided a comprehensive initial or annual visit to 4,279 women and provided 6,386 referrals for further identified needs.
Need
more information?
Dorothy Hastings, Education Section Manager
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 320
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1423
Fax: (602) 364-1496
Email: hastind@azdhs.gov
The Reproductive Health/Family Planning Project is supported entirely by federal funds from Title V, the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant. Title V Reproductive Health/Family Planning Services are available at the following county health departments:
Apache County Health Department
Cochise County Health Department
Coconino County Dept. of Health Svs.
Gila County Health Department
Graham County Health Department
Greenlee County Health Department |
La Paz County Health Department
Maricopa Integrated Health System
Mohave County Department of Public Health
Navajo County Public Health Svs. District
Yavapai County Community Health Services
Yuma County Department of Public Health |
Additional family planning services are supported by Title X funds and are administered by the Arizona Family Planning Council www.azfpc.org. Please contact this agency at (602) 258-5777 or 888-272-5652. For related information please visit the following web sites:
Publications:
Learn more about the state of family planning in Arizona and view the publications available.
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