SCOPE OF FAMILY PLANNING IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

March 1996

The Los Angeles Regional Family Planning Council, Inc. receives and distributes state and federal funding to 78 clinic sites throughout Los Angeles County. Services are provided by hospitals, county neighborhood health centers, community and free clinics, comprehensive health centers, planned parenthood affiliates and other family planning corporations.

185,000 low-income women and men in Los Angeles County annually rely on family planning clinics for a variety of primary and preventive health services.

While most women who receive government-funded family planning services are low-income, many are not eligible for other forms of government health care such as Medi-Cal, and do not have private health insurance. Therefore a visit to a family planning clinic is often a client's only access to health care. Family planning clinics provide the following services:

• screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases;
• breast and cervical cancer screening;
• birth control education and supplies;
• HIV (AIDS) testing;
• pregnancy testing, counseling and referrals;
• and many other primary and preventive health services.

A profile of clients at the Family Planning Council clinic network reveals that:

• 85% of all clients have annual incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level ($15,150 a family of four in 1995), yet the majority are ineligible for Medi-Cal benefits.
• 55% of Family Planning Council clients are in their twenties; 30% are age 30 and older; 15% are age 19 and younger. More than 80% of all clients have not graduated from high school.
• More than 71% of the clients within the Family Planning Council system identify themselves as Hispanic; 16% as non-Hispanic White; 6% as African-American; 4% as Asian/Pacific and 3% other.

Family Planning Council clinics receive funding from federal and state grants, corporate and foundation grants, client fees and donations, Medi-Cal, in-kind goods and services and third-party payments.

The Family Planning Council currently receives approximately $8 million in federal Title X funds and $14 million in funding from the State of California's Office of Family Planning for the delivery of family planning services.

With current funding, government-subsidized family planning services in L.A. County can provide services to less than one-half the women who need them.

State and federal family planning funds are not used for abortions.

-- Los Angeles Regional Family Planning Council

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