Information about Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood is an organization responsible for providing high quality and affordable healthcare to men, women, and young people. The organization also ranks the top in the United States terms of providing sex education. The organization collaborates with different agencies and organizations worldwide to promote sexual education and ensure the well-being of members and their families in all regions of operations. Planned Parenthood offer affiliate healthcare services such as prevention of unintended pregnancies, treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV tests, and offering education programs and outreach to young people and adults. 84 percent of people seeking assistance from the organization are U.S. residents aged 20 years and above. Sources from the organization indicate that one in every five U.S. women have sought health assistance from Planned Parenthood center more than once in her entire life (Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc).
In the U.S., the organization has 58 independent local facilities operating approximately 650 health centers where men, women, and teenage people acquire high-quality health and counseling services. With almost 38,000 members of staff and volunteers, Planned Parenthood emerges to be the most recommended healthcare organization to offer vital health service. For example, the organization offered choices to make responsible choices concerning sexual and reproductive life to approximately 4.7 million people across the globe in the year 2012. On the other hand, Planned Parenthood is concerned about the well-being and livelihood of minorities since 79 percent of their clients are people earning incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty line (Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc 1). These people experience challenges accessing quality and affordable care in the U.S. because of the health disparities; hence, Planned Parenthood comes to their rescue.
On the other hand, Planned Parenthood is a pioneer in the delivery of sexual education in the U.S. In 2012, about one million people of all ages and genders received sexual education from 743 affiliate staff members and volunteers. The education program occurred in different settings that included pre-school, institutions of higher learning, prisons, religious institutions, and civic groups. It covered various content areas that influences life and health the people with the main emphasize on HIV/AIDS, and family planning. Moreover, the organization advocates for policies that allow Americans access comprehensive healthcare and reproduction health education, and information services through numerous settings supported by the media, the government, and civil societies. The presence of millions of activists, donors, and supports makes the organization achieve its goals and visions with fewer challenges.
Problems faced by Planned Parenthood
Despite the success of Planned Parenthood in solving health and domestic problems of its members, the organization faces a major challenge related to funding, operations, and certification. For instance, a debate held on September 16, 2016, by Republican National Committee led to a decision to close funding for Planned Parenthood programs with the aim of shutting down the organization. Members of the meeting termed the organization as illegal and operating criminal activities; hence, the government should not spend taxpayers’ money funding it. However, many people argued that defunding the organization would close out millions of low-income Americans depending on it for basic healthcare services and family support services (Flynn 1).
Many services offered by Planned Parenthood play a critical role in promoting social development and reducing burdens faced by people while balancing between careers and family responsibilities. For instance, the organization runs family planning programs that play a critical role in poverty reduction and allow men and women dedicate more time on their careers leading to nation building. Additionally, the organization offers women empowerment programs. A report from OECD shows women empowerment programs help in eradicating poverty through promoting the economic and social growth of a country and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (OECD 3). Therefore, the Republican should not consider ending Planned Parenthood programs but request the Budgetary Committee to allocate it more funds because these programs have a positive impact on the livelihood of people who elect GOP into government positions.
However, facts from different background and surveys show high probability of Planned Parenthood losing government funding despite its significance to the U.S. community. The Daily Signal News review shows proposed map of health clinics capable of taking up the services of Planned Parenthood should it lose government funding. America already has about 14,000 clinics offering comprehensive health care for women compared to about 700 owned by Planned Parenthood (Harkness 1). These statistics reveal how small Planned Parenthood programs regarding fulfilling the national healthcare demands in the U.S. Quality and not quantity is what matters when it comes to delivery of healthcare and supportive services. The country may have millions of healthcare clinics offering family planning and other supportive programs but of poor quality. Planned Parenthood records the highest number of visits per health center compared to any other healthcare facility in the U.S. despite these arguments.
On the other hand, Republican policymakers seem to initiate “war on women’ by trying to defund Planned Parenthood programs whose majority beneficiaries are women. In a counter response, GOP policymakers argued funds given to these programs could be directed to other organizations like public hospitals capable of offering similar services. Planned Parenthood has already gained trust and loyalty from its clients and diverting these clients to another organization may cause a major problem that will influence other government operations. Instead, policymakers should establish laws allowing the states to fund their respective programs under the Planned Parenthood because the organization promotes healthcare reforms and promotes quality of healthcare at lower costs. The presence of many parties from the government demanding defunding of Planned Parenthood programs by the government leaves the organization with no options but seeking an alternative source of funds.
Alternative funding source for Planned Parenthood programs
Claims that Planned Parenthood's association with unethical practices may be true but with the absence of proving the community should fight for the continuity of the organization. Planned Parenthood funds come from three primary sources. The government contributes 41 percent of the total funding (U.S. $528.4 million), private contributions representing 30 percent (U.S. $391.8 million), and non-governmental health services revenues representing 23 percent (U.S. $305.3 million). The remaining 6 percent comes from other operating revenues (Freiburger). The government contributes almost half of the organization’s budget. The organization will face a significant financial challenge in case the plan to withdraw government funding succeeds. A domestic policy that aims at creating new avenues for funding Planned Parenthood programs would receive significant support from Congress Members who understand the role of the organization in the society.
The effective participation in reforming the healthcare sector demands policymakers to familiarize themselves with health policies, economics, financial mechanisms, and healthcare delivery systems. Understanding the structure and functions of a healthcare delivery program helps in determining the impact of different financial strategies that would assist in improving its operations. On the other hand, organizations engagement in run-away costs and lack of improvements expected forces healthcare funding institutions and agencies to minimize or close their funding programs (Gehlert and Teri 709). One of the domestic policies that would promote funding of the Planned Parenthood organization is the Patient’s Affordable Act (ACA) created by President Obama. The policy will allow the organization to receive funds from health insurance companies. Patients will access healthcare services at lower costs and pay later under normal insurance premium plans. Additionally, tax policies supporting employer-sponsored health insurance and insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare contribute to funding the U.S. healthcare. Incorporating these sources to Planned Parenthood programs would create new ways of funding through employees volunteering to have their salaries deducted.
Funds generated from ACA will be used to purchase drugs and other resources needed by Planned Parenthood programs. Women health is of great concern not only in the U.S. but also worldwide. Any program aimed at improving women health should be welcomed in any healthcare industry despite the cost of implementation. The Affordable Care Act offers guidelines for the public to contribute to funding programs that benefit women in the society. The initiation of the Birth Control program under the ACA policy guidelines has played a significant role in improving the health of women, men, and young people in the society. Funding such initiatives benefits everybody in the society; hence, Congress Members have a duty of passing these policies to help move the country forward.
In conclusion, the Planned Parent plays an essential role in improving the health and livelihood of the people in the U.S. and the rest of the world. The program has benefited many men, women, and young people overcome major health and family problems. The analysis of the organization reveals it faces many forces from the government threatening to withdraw funds and direct them to other organizations. However, incorporating domestic policies such as ACA would create alternative funding for the organizations. Additionally, a policy to have individual employees contribute money voluntary to the organization helps fund its programs.
Works Cited
Flynn, Andrea. “The Economic Case for Funding Planned Parenthood.” The Atlantic. 2015, Sep,
17. < http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/planned-parenthood-economic-benefits/405922/>. Web. 2nd June 2016.
Freiburger, C. “A comprehensive guide to Planned Parenthood’s funding.” Conservative Review.
2015, Sep. 14. Web. 2nd June 2016.
Gehlert, Sarah, and Teri A. Browne. Handbook of Health Social Work. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley,
2006. Internet resource.
Harkness, Kelsey. “If Planned Parenthood Loses Government Funding, Here’s a Map of Health
Clinics That Could Take Its Place.” The Daily Signal. 2015 August 17. Web. 2nd June 2016.
OECD. ‘Women’s economic empowerment.” The OECD DAC Network on Gender Equality
(GENDERNET). 2012.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. “Planned Parenthood at Glance.” Planned
Parenthood Care. 2016. Web. 2nd June 2016.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. “Services.” Planned Parenthood Care. No
Matter What. 2014, Jan. Web. 2nd June 2016.
