Family Planning's Perfect Storm —
Perilous Predictions for 2010
NY Senator Suzi Oppenheimer discusses "Family Planning's Perfect Storm — Perilous Predictions for 2010" in the February 2010 episode of Future Choices. |
"Family Planning's Perfect Storm — Perilous Predictions for 2010"
New York Senator Suzi Oppenheimer joins Future Choices TV during February 2010 to determine the likelihood of a 'perfect storm' in the NYS Legislature for family planning centers. She predicts that funding for women's health centers could be at great risk in this time of budgetary crisis and that vital provisions for updating reproductive health legislation may fail unless advocates grab their pens to write to key state officials. Elaborating on the reasons for her perilous predictions, she details the key items which the Senate needs to pass this year:
- funding of family planning centers throughout the state which are at risk of closing without requisite state support. [See what Senator Oppenheimer has to say about funding in part 1 of her interview below starting +/- 8:15.]
- Reproductive Health Act, which updates 30-year-old legislation to ensure that residents of New York continue to enjoy reproductive choice regardless of their income level. [See what Senator Oppenheimer has to say about the Reproductive Health Act in part 2 of her interview below starting +/- 3:00.]
- Healthy Teens Act, which advances comprehensive sex education, providing young people with the honest and accurate information they need to make safe and responsible decisions about their sexual health. [See what Senator Oppenheimer has to say about the Reproductive Health Act in part 2 of her interview below starting +/- 7:00.]
Senator Oppenheimer strongly encourages caring New Yorkers to contact key state officials right away to express their strong support for this vital three-point legislative agenda:
- Governor David A. Patterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390 - Speaker of the House, Sheldon Silver
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791 - Democratic Conference Leader of the Senate, John Sampson
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2788
Senator Oppenheimer maintains that it will require concerted citizen action to turn away the storm which threatens women's health care this year. To view the full video, please go here.
Senator Oppenheimer's pronouncements are commensurate with the statements of Tracey Brooks, President and CEO of Family Planning Advocates, who asserts:
"Without full funding from the state this year, family planning health centers who are serving clients may not be able to meet those health care needs later this year."
"If New York is to rebuild its economic infrastructure as Gov. Paterson addressed in his State of the State speech last week, we have to keep women and families healthy and strong," Brooks continues. "But amid financial crisis for both the state and family planning centers, advocates for family planning bring their legislators good news:
- Funding family planning saves New York money in the same fiscal year.
- For every $1 spent on family planning services in New York, $4 in Medicaid costs are saved in the same budget year.
- For every Medicaid dollar New York spends on family planning the federal government reimburses the state 90 cents. This 90/10 match saves the state money in the same budget year.
- Fully funding family planning is not only smart budgeting-it upholds New York's long legacy of legislative policy that supports access to full reproductive health care, according to Brooks.
Senator Oppenheimer underlined the vital role which family planning centers play in providing essential health care. Cutting funding for family planning, she says, would reduce access to core health care services including:
• breast and cervical cancer screenings,
• pregnancy testing,
• prenatal care,
• postpartum care,
• family planning counseling and contraception counseling,
• health education, and
• treatment and counseling for sexually transmitted infections and disease.
| Addressing advocates of family planning at the Family Planning Advocates' Day of Action, January 11, 2010, Gov. David Paterson underlines the budget crisis facing women's health centers while at the same time re-emphasizing the need to protect a woman's right to choose. |
Also at the Family Planning Advocates' Day of Action, January 11, 2010, Family Planning Advocates CEO Tracey Brooks links economic rebuilding of NYS to funding of family planning health centers. |
"Family Planning's Perfect Storm — Perilous Predictions for 2010" part 1 |
"Family Planning's Perfect Storm — Perilous Predictions for 2010" part 2 |
"Family Planning's Perfect Storm — Perilous Predictions for 2010" part 3 |
Fast Facts about Healthy Teens Act
Healthy Teens Act would establish a competitive grant program open to local school districts, school-based health centers, BOCES and community-based organizations for the implementation of comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education. In order to be considered for funding, programs must:
- include a strong parental involvement component
- encourage family communication
- provide medically accurate information
- stress the value of abstinence and provide information about STI and pregnancy prevention
- help young people develop the skills they need to make responsible decisions about their sexual health and reproductive lives.
For further detail go here.
When is Future Choices aired in your community?
See Local TV schedule for time and channel in each participating community in Westchester County.
About Senator Suzi Oppenheimer
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer has earned a reputation in the Legislature as an energetic and vocal advocate for education, environmental protection, child care, health care, fiscal reform and the arts. Her record of community service, local government experience, and leadership on statewide issues has enabled her to work in a bipartisan manner to address the concerns of her constituents and all New Yorkers. |MORE
What is the Reproductive Health Act?
The Reproductive Health Act (RHA) is a bill that will update New York State’s outdated abortion laws, first passed in 1970. The RHA will codify in New York State law all the rights that are guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, ensuring that women have a fundamental right to control their own sexual and reproductive lives.
Further detail about the Reproductive Health Act can be found in NARAL Pro-Choice New York's excellent FAQ document, which answers key questions such as:
- Why is New York’s current abortion law inadequate?
- What will the Reproductive Health Act do?
- Why does New York need the Reproductive Health Act?
This page last updated February 10, 2010 7:54 .