Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Contact

434 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
Ph. (212) 541-7800
Fx. (212) 245-1845
http://www.plannedparenthood.org
communications@ppfa.org
cecile.richards@ppfa.org

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 860 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.

 

 

Recently Posted

April 7th Coalition Rally with Planned Parenthood Network Event
PLEASE JOIN THE RALLY on APRIL 7th to STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH!RSVP Now!This Congress was...

Cecile Richards on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment Contributed Video
Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, speaks with MSNBC's Chris...

Statement of Cecile Richards, President of PPFA on the Executive Order of the President on Abortion and Health Care Reform News from the Network
"We regret that a pro-choice president of a pro-choice nation was forced to sign an Executive...

Principal Staff

Cecile Richards, President
E-mail: cecile.richards@ppfa.org

Vanessa Cullins, M.D., Vice President for Medical Affairs

Roger Evans, Senior Director, Public Policy Litigation and Law

Eve C. Gartner, Deputy Director, Public Policy Litigation and Law

Laurie Rubiner, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy

Areas of Expertise:

Access & Disparities, Body Image & Wellness, Awareness & Education, Human Rights & Security, Family & Society, Population & Reproductive Rights, Globalization, Reproductive Health, Sexuality & Gender, Health, Reproductive Rights & Sexuality

Member Experts:


Projects & Campaigns

Health Services

Planned Parenthood provides the highest quality sexual and reproductive health care, education, and information to five million women, men, and teens worldwide each year. Planned Parenthood's 111 affiliates operate more than 860local health centers across the United States.

Excellence in Medical Standards and Training

Planned Parenthood health care experts are recognized authorities in all aspects of reproductive health care, including patient care, health care policy, education, research and technology, and public information. Last year in collaboration with the PPFA National Medical Committee of leading U.S. doctors and researchers, we published new guidelines for the medical management of men's reproductive care, periodic well-woman care, and care for transgender people as part of our ongoing effort to support innovative, evidence-based clinical services and health care.

Research

In partnership with academic centers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and state departments of health, Planned Parenthood affiliates undertook several research projects in an effort to continuously improve health care and services, including research on emergency contraception and medication abortion service delivery. We developed two comprehensive medical continuing education programs - "Putting risk into perspective: Making informed decisions about hormonal contraception" and "Managing HPV: A new era in patient care."

Pro-Choice Activism

In Congress and in statehouses, in the courts, and in the media, Planned Parenthood is a passionate and trustworthy advocate for policies that enable access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, education, and information. Whether talking to members of Congress or arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, we fight for positive policies that promote women's health, prevent unintended pregnancies through effective family planning programs, and protect the health of young people through comprehensive sexuality education.

 

The successful mobilization of our activists to protect women's and young people's health and safety, through ballot initiative campaigns in California, Oregon, and South Dakota, is an example of Planned Parenthood's power as a 50-state advocacy organization with nearly four million activists, supporters, and donors. The Planned Parenthood Action Network, which mobilizes activists around the country in support of our goals, recruited more than 200,000 new supporters last year. Also aiding our advocacy efforts are networks of pro-choice clergy members, Republican activists, young women and men on college campuses, and leaders in the arts and entertainment industries.

 

International Reproductive Health and Family Planning

Planned Parenthood's concern for reproductive health and freedom extends around the world. We work with partner organizations overseas to improve the sexual health and well-being of individuals and families, and fight at home and abroad to secure responsible policies affecting sexual and reproductive health globally. PPFA is also a founding member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

 

For more than 30 years, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has supported nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America in providing reproductive health care and education to people around the world. We focus on reducing the number of unsafe abortions through increased access to contraception and safe abortion services, protecting the sexual health of youth, and improving policies on sexual and reproductive health.

 

The PPFA Africa Regional Office partnered with 15 organizations in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Sudan to provide health care and sexuality education to more than 154,603 people, and sexuality education to more than 350,000. The PPFA Asia Pacific Regional Office partner ed with 12 organizations in India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand to provide services and education to 58,919 people, 4,602 of whom were abortion clients. The PPFA Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office partnered with 18 organizations in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago to provide services and education to more than 205,000 women, men, and young people and to advocate for better laws and policies.

 

 

Reports & Resources

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Annual Report

Center News

Statement of Cecile Richards, President of PPFA on the Executive Order of the President on Abortion and Health Care Reform
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 10:40am

"We regret that a pro-choice president of a pro-choice nation was forced to sign an Executive Order that further codifies the proposed anti-choice language in the health care reform bill, originally proposed by Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.  What the president’s Executive Order did not do is include the complete and total ban on private health insurance coverage for abortion that Congressman Bart Stupak (D–MI) had insisted upon. So while we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson’s language, we are grateful that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban." 

 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 840 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.



Contacts

PPFA Media Office, 202-973-4882

Published: 03.21.10
Statement of Cecile Richards, President of PPFA, on House Passing Historic Health Care Reform Bill
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 10:33am

“Today is a truly historic day for the American people who have long demanded affordable, quality health care coverage.

“For more than a year, Planned Parenthood has worked tirelessly for a health care reform bill that would fix our broken health care system, strengthen women’s health, and achieve quality, affordable health care for all Americans.  Today, monumental progress was made toward achieving these goals with the passage of historic health care reform legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives, despite a symbolic gesture, in the form of an Executive Order, to anti-choice Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI), which has diverted attention from the central goal of health care reform — controlling costs and extending coverage.  
 
“As a trusted health care provider to millions of women and families across the country, Planned Parenthood applauds the fact that this legislation would extend health care coverage, including family planning, to tens of millions of women and families, guarantee access to affordable life-saving screenings for cervical and breast cancer and other serious health problems, protect women against gender discrimination by private insurers, end the practice of dropping coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and significantly increase access to reproductive health care.  The proposal also includes a commonsense provision to expand family planning under Medicaid, which would significantly increase access to essential preventive health care for millions of women.
 
“As a result of this historic expansion of health care coverage to more than 30 million Americans, the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who work for Planned Parenthood health centers will be providing care to many  more women, men, and families who will be seeking primary and preventive care.
 
“Planned Parenthood is also extremely pleased that members of the House listened to the millions of women and men who expressed their strong opposition to the Stupak abortion ban.  Stopping the Stupak ban was a high priority for women across the country who rejected the notion that they would not be able to even use their own money to obtain private insurance coverage for abortion.  It was a tough fight, but we salute Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D- CA), Congressman Rosa DeLauro (D–CT) , members of  the House Pro-Choice Caucus, and all others who stood up for women’s health and women’s rights.
 
“Nonetheless, we regret that a pro-choice president of a pro-choice nation was forced to sign an Executive Order that further codifies the proposed anti-choice language in the health care reform bill, originally proposed by Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.  What the president’s executive order did not do is include the complete and total ban on private health insurance coverage for abortion that Congressman Bart Stupak (D–MI) had insisted upon. So while we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson’s language, it is critically important to note that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban.
 
“This is a historic day for American people. We regret that a gesture to Congressman Stupak has diverted the nation’s focus from this bill’s accomplishments, including the extension of family planning to millions of women.”
 
 

 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 840 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.



Contacts

PPFA Media Office, 202-973-4882

Published: 03.21.10

Opportunities, Grants & Fellowships

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Multimedia

Video

Cecile Richards on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment
See video
Cecile Richards on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment

Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, speaks with MSNBC's Chris Matthews about the Stupak-Pitts amendment which would comprise the most severe limitation on a woman's right to access safe and legal abortion care in a generation.