PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MARYLAND:
A HISTORY
For over 80 years Planned Parenthood of Maryland (PPM) has been delivering high quality, affordable, reproductive health care services. By providing medical services, education, training, and advocacy, we seek to help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive health, family planning options, and sexuality.
As an affiliate of, and accredited by, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), PPM currently operates eight health centers throughout Maryland. PPM Administrative staff is divided into three divisions: Clinical Service, External Relations, and Planning, Audit & Compliance. Our administrative offices are located above our Baltimore City health center.
Planned Parenthood of Maryland continuously strives to maintain the same dedication and enthusiasm toward the expansion of reproductive health care services that is has since its founding.
Every Child Wanted and Loved- The Beginning
Founded in Baltimore in 1927 with the consultation of Margaret Sanger, The Bureau for Contraceptive Advice was designed to provide birth control to married women needing help with spacing births and limiting their families for health reasons. Due to controversial times, Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland were both unable to persuade their schools from housing the Bureau, despite being instrumental in its founding. As a result, The Bureau for Contraceptive Advice was opened in a Baltimore row house at 1028 North Broadway.
The organization was founded by a group of concerned citizens and physicians, including Dr. Bessie Moses. Dr. Moses was the first female obstetrical intern at Johns Hopkins and, upon her graduation from the Hopkins School of Medicine, became the first Medical Director of the Bureau. Dr. Moses maintained her position until her retirement in 1956.
Dr. Moses and her staff managed to subvert the federal Comstock laws (which banned the interstate traffic of contraceptives) by performing research on the efficacy of birth control methods of that time, mainly diaphragms and condoms. A rigorous scientist and compassionate physician, Dr. Moses carefully gathered and analyzed information, and published the results. During her 29 years as Medical Director, Dr. Moses testified before Congress with Margaret Sanger and activist physicians seeking repeal of the restricitive laws which sanctioned the Bureaus activities as illegal. In addition, as Medical Director, Dr. Moses began to recruit and train medical school and nursing school students to assist and learn how to provide birth control methods.
The Growth of PPM
The Bureau for Contraceptive Advice was renamed The Baltimore Birth Control Clinic in 1932. Ten years later it was renamed once more to become Planned Parenthood of Maryland. In subsequent years, contraceptive services were expanded and other medical services were added including: infertility, sterilization, sex counseling, abortion, and expanded reproductive health care. In the 1960s PPM began providing education and training services in addition to direct health care. Clinics were opened in churches and universities; chapters were founded in other communities; education centers flourished in nearly every county in the state. Federal and state funding reached an all-time high in the 70s, only to be cut drastically in the next decade by President Ronald Reagan. PPM throughout this time maintained a strong history of growth and stability.In 1975 the PPM administrative offices and largest health center moved to the 600 block of howard Street in Baltimore and then to the 300 block of Howard Street in 2004, where it remains under the direction of President & CEO John W. Nugent.
PPM has an active Board of Directors that identifies the strategic priorities of the organization, as well as ensures its fiscal solvency.
PPM Today
Volunteers have consistently held PPM together as fundraisers. While volunteers had long been the driving force in PPM's day-to-day clinical and education work, the expansion of program activities required the recruitment of professional staff. As programs became staff-driven, volunteers continued to assist, but under staff leadership.
Other changes within the organization are the result of new technologies and changing demographics. PPM operates eight high-quality Health Centers with a call center for appointment scheduling and bilingual staff to serve Spanish speakers. Plans have begun to add Electronic Medical Records. Ultrasounds in satellite locations share images for consultation with physicians in Baltimore. PPM continues to be a leader in offering the latest birth control technologies such as Implanon®.
As a not-for-profit service organization, PPM remains dedicated to providing affordable, quality health care. PPM is committed to helping all women, men, teens, and adults protect themselves from disease, safeguard against unintended pregnancies, and make healthy decisions. In order to make these ideals a reality, we provide people with accurate information and access to highly trained practitioners for preventative care.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MARYLAND: HIGHLIGHTS
Each year Planned Parenthood of Maryland grows by leaps and bounds to better serve you and your community. Please click on the links below to read what PPM has accomplished over the years.
Fiscal Year Highlights
Click here to download a PDF of our FY2010 summary. ~ NEW!
Click here to download a PDF of our FY2009 summary.
Click here to download a PDF of our FY2008 summary.
Click here to download a PDF of our FY2007 summary.
Click here to download a PDF of our FY2006 summary.
