Planned Parenthood:Service Accessibility, Strategies, & Stigma

Heather Brown, Tenaya Drapkin, & Rory O’Brien23 April 2015

Introduction to Planned Parenthood

• Project: Investigate why there are so many “no show” patients in the St Louis area PP health centers.

• Background of Planned Parenthood:

National non-profit organization

In St. Louis since the 1940s

• Mission: Ensure access to reproductive health services

• Services they provide

Target Population and Catchment Area

My focus:

Six St. Louis Metro health centers

CWE

South Grand

St. Peters

Florissant

Manchester

Fairview Heights

Central West End & South Grand Health Centers

• Two offices of particular interest:– Central West End and South Grand health

centers

• Zip codes included 63106, 63107, 63120

(Old North St. Louis, Hyde Park, Walnut Park)

• Social determinants of health

So many “no show” clients

● Number of no show patients between January and February of 2015 = 2006 patients

○ Central West End: 560○ South Grand: 476

• Fiscal Year 2013-2014 – Central West End center had booking rate of

90%, show rate of 60%

• Results: – Holes in scheduling– Turning away same day appointments.

Project & Solutions

● Created a survey

● 215 calls made

● Results: 12% response rate, 25 people responded

● Solutions:○ Online scheduling system ○ Combine biomedical interventions with

underlying factors

• Fundamental Cause Theory

• Intersectionality

Planned Parenthood Advocates:The Public Policy Department

Tenaya Drapkin & Rory O’Brien

Planned Parenthood Advocates

• Organizes grassroots efforts to:

–Protect reproductive rights in Missouri

–Dismantle barriers to provision of services

–Expand access to health services

–Create social change

–Mobilize and empower individuals to become advocates for their own health and rights

The Larger Environment: How do history and politics mold our work?

•The Federal Context

–Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Branches

•The Missouri Context

–State’s Rights & Permissions–A Conservative Approach

History with the Courts & Legislation

1973: Roe v. Wade

1992: Planned Parenthood v Casey

1976: Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri

v. Danforth

1983: Planned Parenthood of Kansas City, Missouri

v. Ashcroft2007: Gonzales v.

Planned Parenthood

1976: Hyde Amendment

MISSOURI LEGISLATURE

2012

17 Laws Proposed, 1 Passed7 Laws Proposed, 0 Passed

2013

12 Laws Proposed, 1 Passed4 Laws Proposed, 0 Passed

2014

32 Laws Proposed, 1 Passed6 Laws Proposed, 0 Passed

2015

24 Laws Proposed, 0 Passed9 Laws Proposed, 0 Passed

Current Strategies

Reactive Strategies• Rapid Response Team• Phone Banking• Lobby Days & Protests

Proactive Strategies• Youth Empowerment through T.A.S.H.• Lobby Days & Protests

Power Through Community & Coalition

• Medicaid Expansion Coalition

• One Springfield Campaign

• Community Events (such as Health Fairs)

Strategic Targeting for de jure and de facto change:Given circumstance, what fights can we win?

Power Through Stories

•Real experience, rather than rhetoric, must be at the root of discussions

•Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (T.A.S.H.)

Power Through Stories

•Sharing stories = Showing power

•Stigma → Silence –Silence → Lawmakers restrict access to reproductive rights

•Sharing stories → Social change

Moving Forward:

•Facilitate additional avenues for students to share stories

–e.g. Mock hearing

•Encourage students and supporters to share their experiences from the Capitol

Thank you, Class,

& Thank you, Planned Parenthood