Recorded presentation

Karen Edlund, RN, BSN, Family Planning Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-6012, karen.edlund@state.ma.us

In Massachusetts, family planning is an integral component of the Department of Public Health's efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies and STDs including HIV/AIDS, reduce infant mortality and morbidity, and improve the health of women and men of all ages. The Family Planning Program promotes and provides comprehensive family planning services, which include clinic-based services and may include community education and outreach. This presentation will focus on how creative solutions were implemented in order to maintain and improve family planning programs in the state of Massachusetts in the face of decreased funding, increased cost of providing services, increased demand for services and a political climate that is not publicly supportive of these services. This will include a summary of their needs assessment, emergency contraception network, and other options being considered such as the potential benefits of applying for a Medicaid Waiver for family planning only services.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to

1)Articulate the role of state government in sustaining the family planning infrastructure,
• Discuss ways that funding shifts have impacted programs, 3)List ways that “politics” impacts the delivery of family planning services, 4)Suggest creative approaches for promoting and providing family planning services

Keywords: Family Planning, Management and Sustainability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation