State funding for family planning services surges

Nancy Partika of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies reports that the Legislature has approved a “significant increase” in funding for Hawai‘i Department of Health Family Planning Services for the upcoming 2008-2009 biennium. The breakdown is as follows:

• $1,248,750 in state general funds was approved to purchase family planning services in each year of the biennium under DOH's new program.
• Using federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding, $463,587 will be transferred from the Department of Human Services for family planning, health education and outreach services.

The state DOH has been the grantee for federal Title X. family planning funds for more than 30 years said Karen Mak of the DOH Family Planning Program. During the economic downturn of the 1990s, state funds for family planning services were reduced by approximately 90 percent.  “Last fiscal year, the state contributed approximately $180,600 for statewide family planning services,” she said.  The FPP provides federal and state funding to some 39 clinics statewide and serves approximately 15,000 clients.   

“Mahalo to all of you who helped advocate for these funds to be incorporated into what has been a flat budget for FP since 1995,” Partika said.  “A big mahalo as well to the Hawai‘i Women's Legislative Caucus, for providing the leadership in supporting the need for these funds within the legislative budget process.” The next step, she noted, is for the governor’s office to release the appropriated funds to the DOH.