Planned Parenthood of Indiana announced this week that a total of six clinics will close in the state, bringing the total number of Planned Parenthood clinics down from 34 to 28. According to the Indianapolis Star:
The closing of the clinics, as well as an operational shakeup, is due to a loss of funding, said President and CEO Betty Cockrum . . . The remaining clinics will keep the same hours and be open at convenient times when clients really need them, including weekends and evenings.
There are 17 full-time and 8 part-time jobs being cut at all levels, from patient services to finance to administration to managers.
The Indiana Business Journal adds this:
Planned Parenthood CEO Becky Cockrum said its share of annual federal funding has been cut by more than half—from $3 million to $1.4 million—due to changes in the way Title X funds are administered. Title X funding serves low-income individuals and families.
Cockrum said the cutbacks can’t come at a worse time for the organization.
“This is especially troubling right now because we have more and more people who are uninsured or are becoming uninsured,” she said. “So the need for this kind of service is growing at the same time it’s becoming more difficult to accommodate that.”
This is sad news, but it sounds like the decision will be the best long term move for overall client care in the state of Indiana. And unfortunately, Indiana isn’t a unique case. Over the summer, all of the Planned Parenthood clinics in El Paso closed due to financial problems. These are tough economic times for everybody. But there are several things that you can do to help your local Planned Parenthood.
1. Consider donating to Planned Parenthood of Indiana. Every little bit helps, and 80% of Planned Parenthood’s budget goes directly to patient care. The rest is divided between their advocacy and education wings.
2. Get involved as a volunteer. Your local clinic can tell you what they need. Go to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s website, put in your zip code to find a local clinic, then contact the clinic directly to sign up as a volunteer. If you’re an Indiana resident, click here. As a volunteer, I’ve served as a clinic escort, I’ve done phone banking, event tabling, and I’ll be helping with data entry later this month. There’s usually something for people with every kind of skills set. All you have to do is let Planned Parenthood know that you want to get involved.
This definitely is some pretty devastating news, although I agree, ensuring high quality care for pp patience is most certainly the priority.
the economic times of the status quo are taking a huge toll on health care providers like planned parenthood, and now is such a crucial time for putting our values into action.