Health Improvement Strategy
Family Planning Program
https://mygarrettcounty.com/groups/garrett-county-health-department-family-planning-program-756739966/
Goal:
- Prevent unintended pregnancies.
- Promote Reproductive Health
- Support Informed Decision Making
- Enhance Maternal and Child Health
- Reduce Health Disparities
Strategy Description:
- Help individuals and couples with pregnancy prevention through access to contraceptive methods and education about their use.
- Improve overall reproductive health by providing screenings, exams, and counseling related to sexual health, STI prevention and treatment, and reproductive cancers.
- Provide information and resources to help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive choices, including when to have children, how many children to have, and how to space pregnancies.
- Enhance maternal health outcomes and healthier birth weights for babies, with access to prenatal care, which is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
- Reduce disparities in access to healthcare by providing affordable or no-cost services to low-income individuals, adolescents, and other underserved populations.
- Overall, our goal is to improve health outcomes and support individuals and families in achieving their reproductive health, and family goals.
Level of Change:
Programs
Primary Focus Area:
Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health
Data Category Tag:
GCHD Personal Health
Strategic Planning Alignment:
Customer Service
Estimated Implementation Date:
2023-07-01
Estimated Completion Date:
2024-06-30
Estimated Ease of Implementation:
Hard
Estimated Cost of Implementation:
Moderate
Potential Community Benefit:
Very High
Health Equity:
Health equity in family planning initiatives involves addressing social determinants of health to ensure all individuals have fair and just opportunities to achieve optimal reproductive health outcomes.
Access and Affordability: Family planning services are accessible and affordable for all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status. This includes offering services on a sliding fee scale, accepting Medicaid and other insurance plans, and providing free or low-cost services to uninsured individuals. Addressing financial barriers helps ensure that cost does not prevent people from accessing essential reproductive health services.
Cultural Competence and Language Access: Our Family planning staff aim to provide culturally competent care that respects the diverse backgrounds and values of our clients. This includes understanding and addressing cultural norms, beliefs, and practices related to reproductive health. Language access is also crucial, ensuring that interpreter services are available to facilitate effective communication and understanding for each of our clients.
Community Engagement and Outreach: By engaging with the community to understand it's unique needs and preferences. Including collaboration with community organizations, religious leaders, and other trusted figures to promote awareness of available services and overcome cultural or social barriers to care. Outreach efforts ensure that information about family planning options reaches underserved populations that may have barriers to accessing healthcare.
Education and Empowerment: Provide comprehensive education about reproductive health, contraceptive options, and sexually transmitted infections. This education empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and family planning choices. It also includes information about rights and options related to sexual and reproductive health care, ensuring that individuals understand and can advocate for their health needs.
Health equity in family planning addresses the socioeconomic and cultural factors that impact access to and utilization of reproductive health services. By integrating these considerations into program planning, delivery, and advocacy, family planning initiatives can work towards reducing disparities and ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to achieve optimal reproductive health outcomes.