Plan Van

The Plan Van

Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) is bringing education programs, mini–workshops and cutting-edge HIV testing and counseling right to where the people are. Our sleek, royal blue Plan Van was unveiled on June 27th at a ceremony held in conjunction with National HIV Testing Day, when free HIV testing was available at PPNC's health centers in Hempstead, Massapequa and Glen Cove.

Promoting Prevention One-On-One

The Plan Van, which is a traveling information and testing center staffed by PPNC educators and HIV counselors, is now appearing in shopping centers, community centers and other busy locations in Nassau County communities that are at high risk for HIV/AIDS. Inside the traveling health center, adult peer counselors from PPNC’s WOMEN (Women’s Outreach Motivation Education Network) Project are on hand to offer free Rapid AIDS Tests, plus counseling and medical referrals for anyone testing positive. Those testing negative learn how to stay safe.

On other days, the van shows up at beaches, concerts, malls and similar venues where teens and college-age young people congregate. On board, PPNC-trained teen peer educators distribute literature and answer questions about sexuality, birth control and related issues. 

Making the Dream A Reality

The van was donated by Ann Gottlieb of the Ann & Jules Gottlieb Foundation. PPNC President and CEO JoAnn Smith said, “There is no way we can say thank you to Ann loud enough or long enough. This van will be an important tool to help Panned Parenthood reach new populations with our messages of prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, and safe, sensible sexual behavior through comprehensive education. The more young people we can reach, the faster the teen pregnancy rate in Nassau will drop. And the more people we can contact in communities at high risk for HIV/AIDS, the more people we can teach how to protect themselves against contracting the disease, or, if they are infected, help get proper treatment quickly” Smith said.

In the future, PPNC plans to add pregnancy testing, birth control, EC and STD testing to the Plan Van services.

For more information, please call (516) 750-2600.