More than just a sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, Planned Parenthood often serves as the only source of care an individual receives in this community. Many of our patients "fall through the cracks" in Oregon's social service system. They may or may not have access to the Oregon Health Plan or other assistance programs, and they know little about the other resources available through non-profit agencies. Why do they come here? Our client base knows that Planned Parenthood cares -- that we will see them whether or not they have the ability to pay. In the process of doing what we do best - sexual and reproductive healthcare - our clinicians and clinical support staff open doors for many patients. We can refer them to one of the many caring and supportive organizations in our community. The following story is just one example of that process:

A 45 year-old patient is an insulin dependent diabetic which has left her visually impaired. She has had nine laser surgeries for her eyes, yet has not been declared disabled. The vaginal problem for which she was seeking treatment was managed quickly and the visit allowed for more detailed conversation. The woman related that she lives in a house owned by her boyfriend -- but it is under foreclosure and has no heat. She supports herself by occasionally doing substitute teaching work and odd jobs -- but her car just barely functions. She has no money for food, so her diabetes is poorly controlled. This causes her to administer four insulin shots per day. She does have insurance through the Oregon Health Plan, but that's her only assistance. She seems to be barely surviving. She is lonely, her sister has breast cancer, and her mother lives above a tavern in Pennsylvania. She has no one she can go to for help.

Our clinician and other staff referred her to food bank resources and the YWCA for counseling and social support. They made a phone call to her doctor at the Casey Eye Institute, recommending that he declare her disabled. Finally, they contacted an OHSU diabetic nurse to help her deal more globally with issues of food.

Check here for more patient stories.

We're your advocate

Planned Parenthood is the leading advocacy organization protecting a woman's right to choose at the Oregon legislature. We work in several ways to impact public policy. We field a full-time government relations staff person to draft, monitor and advocate on bills affecting reproductive health issues during the legislative session. PPCW's grassroots organizer coordinates our Action Alert Network comprised of nearly 5,000 individuals willing to advocate on reproductive rights. This Network has completed as many as 12,000 phone calls to Planned Parenthood supporters in a single Get-Out-The-Vote drive. PPCW Legislative Action Teams, organized by Oregon State Senate district, visit with members in their district and travel to lobby policy-makers at the capital.

PPCW has been a major leader in guaranteeing the women of Oregon full access to reproductive and sexual healthcare. Due to the hard work of Planned Parenthood and the pro-choice community, we have met every anti-choice challenge with victory. Oregon is one of only a dozen states which preserves state funding for abortion services for low-income women. Oregon remains one of the few states to guarantee access for minors age 15 and over to abortion services without the barrier of parental notification or consent. Our government relations staff worked tirelessly to assure that preventive gynecological care and contraception must be included in any basic insurance benefit package. We also enacted some of the strongest anti-violence statutes in the nation to protect women's healthcare facilities. In fact, we were one of the first states to enact such legislation. We've beat back every anti-choice ballot measure that has come before the Oregon electorate since Roe v. Wade. Oregon is a pro-choice state despite the highly organized anti-choice zealots who continue to attack our right to choose. It takes the hard work of our grassroots network, volunteers and contributors to maintain our most basic rights.

Why should you give to PPCW?

No one works harder than Planned Parenthood to ensure that every woman and man is able to make her or his own choices about childbearing. If you believe in choice, if you believe in planned families, if you believe that the potential of young women and men should not be limited by the tragic cycle of unintended and unwanted pregnancy, you can feel good about giving to Planned Parenthood.

The education, counseling and preventive healthcare services Planned Parenthood provides help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions. Planned Parenthood offers honest information about all a woman's choices, including abortion, adoption, pre-natal care and parenting. Our goal is to make every child wanted and loved. Giving to Planned Parenthood truly makes a difference in the lives of teens, adults, and their families.