Earliest Beginnings

1910 to 1930

Founder, Fannie Walton becomes interested in Margaret Sanger's birth control movement. As a YWCA Board member and volunteer, she begins counseling women referred to her by others. With her husband, she makes up supplies of contraceptive suppositories for distribution.

1931 to 1932

Fannie and two other prominent women organize a "Birth Control Committee" and work under the auspices of the Civic League.

1932 to 1945

The Committee enlists the aid of local physicians who, although unwilling to use their names for fear of public censure, are willing to examine women and fit them for diaphragms. The Committee operates successfully for 13 years until anti-birth control pressure causes the Civic League to withdraw support. Within a year, the fledgling organization is out of business, due to lack of funds.

From the Founding Onward

1965 to 1966

Fannie and other concerned community leaders reorganize the birth control group and incorporate it as Planned Parenthood Association of Kalamazoo County (PPAKC) on March 17, 1966. The first medical clinics are held in the basement of Douglass Community Center. After two years as a provisional member, the new agency successfully meets all standards and becomes a full affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. in December of 1968.

1970

The agency receives federal funding to provide birth control services through the department of Health, Education and Welfare.

1971

Medical clinics are held in the Health Department and at the agency offices on Elm Street and in Comstock Township.

1972

The agency moves its offices to 612 Douglas Ave. in Kalamazoo.

1973

Following Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, the PPAKC Board sets up a separate corporation, Alternatives, Inc., to ensure that women of Kalamazoo County have the option of high quality pregnancy termination services, which become available in January 1974.

1974 to 1975

Vasectomy program begins.

1977

PPAKC and Alternatives merge to become Reproductive Health Care Center of South Central Michigan, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.  The agency adopts “Reproductive Health Care Center/Planned Parenthood” as its working designation.

1975 to 1978

Increasing anti-abortion pressures on federal and state funding sources lead to numerous HEW and IRS audits, which are later defined as harassment. RHCC/PP Board passes agency-protective grant acceptance policies, which, in 1978, lead to elimination of federal funding.

1979

With the help of many volunteers, most especially Robert Hencken who was instrumental in getting the new Planned Parenthood building built, the organization moves into its new, 10,000 square foot, state certified, and outpatient surgical facility on W. Michigan Ave. All services are now offered in one location. The organization assumes a $365,000 mortgage on the building. Voluntarily stops receiving government Title X funding.

1981 to 1982

Mini-laparotomies, a form of female sterilization (or tubal ligation), are added to services. Infertility support is also added. The Center wins the PPFA Fairchild Award, for excellence in service provision, and hosts the 1982 Great Lakes Spring Conference. Counseling services move out of the education department to client services.

1983

• The Center produces six videotaped programs on various reproductive health services, and one program, featuring founder Fannie Walton at 94 years, for local cable access television. Fannie Walton was awarded the highest honor: the Alan Guttmacher Award.
• In a Kalamazoo Gazette article recognizing Fannie Walton she is quoted: "The more information people have about sex, the more wisely they'll use it. It's quite a bit different now, but it's still not different enough. Parents still aren't telling their children all they need to know." Questioned about teenage pregnancies: "I never remember meeting a 15 or 16 year old who was ready to be a parent."

1984

A special capital drive raises $350,000 to pay off the mortgage on the facility. The video series wins a prestigious national award. RHCC/PP becomes the national training center for female sterilization through a contract with Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

1985

• The Future of Choice Coalition is organized with representatives of 12 pro-choice groups.
• The "Every Child a Wanted Child" video series wins three more local, state, and national awards. Two new video programs for pro-choice speaking presentations are produced.
• An adolescent pregnancy prevention initiative is funded for two years.

1986

• The campaign to raise an endowment for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Linkage Effort (A.P.P.L.E.) to support expanded education outreach programs reaches $300,000. The Center again receives a Fairchild Award for excellence in services, Board involvement, and administration.
• On December 1, the facility is destroyed by arson; on December 21, Planned Parenthood reopens temporary quarters on Turwill Lane.

1987

While in temporary facilities, the agency restores all pre-fire services except for female sterilization, although in most cases, those services do not reach pre-fire numbers of clients. The majority of abortion-seeking clients are referred to other facilities 45 minutes to one hour's driving distance from Kalamazoo. Groundbreaking for a new, enlarged, permanent building takes place in August on the W. Michigan site.

1988

• #The affiliate received a substantial bequest from the estate of Curtis & Lillian Meyer which was used to establish a Board restricted reserve account as well as a fund at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to benefit education programs. This education fund was increased by $345,000 raised by the Board of Directors. The Education Library was named in honor of Curtis and Lillian Meyer.
• The agency moves into its new permanent facility early in the year and opens a part-time satellite clinic in March, in the Village of Richland. All services are restored at the Kalamazoo site and all non-surgical services are made available through the Richland clinic. Services for males begin in both sites, including male screening for testicular cancer and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
• Cervical caps are now offered as a method of birth control.
• In November, Michigan votes to deny Medicaid funding for abortion, which denies services to poor women and increases the challenge of financial stability. Donor contributions to the Health Emergency Loan Program (H.E.L.P.) fund maintain access to abortion for poor women.

1989

• An award-winning outreach program begins in the Hispanic community, called "Casa to Casa," which is later expanded to other minorities with the program title "House to House," places trained peers in the community to answer family planning questions.
• Anonymous AIDS/HIV testing begins in July.
• The morning-after pill, later to be known as emergency contraception, is introduced in September.
• Abortions are now provided at up to 14 weeks pregnancy. The agency withstands two anti-choice invasions as well as another firebombing in September.

1990

• The PPFA Fairchild Award for excellence in service provision is again awarded to the agency, and so is the National Society for Fundraising Executive's Chapter Award for excellence in crisis fundraising.
• The agency is the first in the area to offer a "no-scalpel" vasectomy, an outpatient procedure, which substitutes a single puncture for two incisions and reduces blood loss and the chance of infection.
• Client accounts and appointment functions are computerized to improve efficiency. RHCC/PP co-hosts the "Rally For Choice" in Bronson Park.

1991

• "Planned Parenthood of South Central Michigan" becomes the agency's new title in a motion to reflect its six-county service area.
• A new clinic in Battle Creek is opened in the spring, and the satellite office in Richland is closed in the fall.
• The House to House program receives national recognition.
• A Teen Puppet Theatre is launched as a peer education project.
• PPSCM becomes the first provider in the area for Norplant, a long-term contraceptive, and begins to provide colposcopy, for cancer screening, and Cryotherapy, for treatment.
• The PPSCM property is fenced for added security. A new addition to the surgical facility, funded by Bronson Hospital, is added to the Kalamazoo building, and equipped with general anesthesia capability.

1992

• The Louise A. Safron Fund was established at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation with gifts from private donors to honor Louise. The proceeds are to be used at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer to pay unanticipated, unbudgeted expenses.
• The Ann V. Parfet Fund was created with gifts from "Friends of Ann" for the purpose of providing an annual monetary "Annie Award" to the staff member who best exemplifies the spirit and dedication of Ann.
• Laparoscopies, a less invasive type of female sterilization, replace mini-laparotomies.
• The Frederick Margolis Traveling Library is developed to help parents talk to children about sex. The agency co-hosts "Stand Up For Your Rights" rally in Bronson Park. Crowd estimates were over 600.

1993

• Free walk-in pregnancy testing is now offered at all times.
• In an effort to focus on patients total reproductive health, abortion follow-up care is begun.
• Depo Provera, a contraceptive injection, is introduced.
• Starting in April, Michigan law requires that minors who opt for an abortion must obtain parental consent or a waiver from a judge to do so.

1994

• Pregnancy loss counseling begins.
• The Healthy Foundations Program provides comprehensive sexuality education to childcare providers at ten local day care centers.
• A postpartum depression workshop is presented.
• PPSCM co-sponsors "Say CHOICE! Michigan" rally in Bronson Park.
• The agency begins to receive grant money from the Michigan Department of Community Health for statewide sterilization services.

1995

• A public perception plan called "We're More Than You Think" is a 3-year campaign on the breadth of services provided.
• The agency adopts a new mission statement.
• Walk-in clinics begin.
• PPSCM is the only provider of subsidized outpatient female sterilization in Michigan.
• The clinic begins training medical residents for pediatric, internal medicine, and family practice.

1996

• The agency receives a grant to increase voter registration among clients with a campaign called Maggie's Millions.
• Mid-trimester abortions, for pregnancies up to 15 weeks and 6 days are now offered.
• PPSCM co-hosts a rally in Bronson Park.

1997

• The Dr. George and Virginia Hoekzema Fund was established at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation with a generous lead gift from the Hoekzemas. The proceeds are to be used to subsidize the cost of sterilizations for women and men otherwise unable to afford the procedure.
• To involve a new generation of young people in reproductive politics, PPSCM initiates a campaign.
• The agency receives a Clinical Laboratory Investigative Authority (CLIA) recertification of Compliance, to ensure quality of lab-work.
• The surgical suite was named in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Hoekzema.#
• Louise Safron retired due to health issues in 1997 after 17 years as Executive Director.
• The Rev. Mark Pawlowski was hired as chief executive officer in November, 1997. The Board that oversaw the transition was a large one.

1998

• Saturday morning family planning clinics are added to the schedule.
• A non-blood type of HIV/AIDS testing, called Orasure is introduced.
• The agency is re-funded by state for sterilization.
• A network of contracting clinicians is built.
• PPSCM co-hosts "Rally in the Park" to increase voter registration and public awareness on reproductive rights issues.

1999

• The Hormonal Contraception with Optional Pelvic Exam (H.O.P.E.) program begins.
• Collaboration starts up with the Community Aids Resource and Education Resources (CARES) for HIV testing and counseling.
• Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, a national organization devoted to educating and organizing young Americans about their vanishing reproductive rights, is initiated by PPFA and adapted by PPSCM.

2000

• State recognition for Healthy Babies-Healthy Start.
• Clergy Advisory Board is begun.
• The agency wins PPFA's Affiliate Excellence Award for clinical training of professionals.
• The Education Department, now the Center for Leadership in Sexuality Education, develops and funds a teen peer mentoring program in Calhoun County, later to be dubbed Project T.R.U.S.T. (Teaching Responsibility & Understanding of Sexuality & Teen Development)
• PPSCM's website is established.
• The clinic is the state's first provider of Mifepristone, a type of medical abortion. In March, a workshop on Mifepristone for 72 professionals is co-hosted by PPSCM.
• The agency applys for and starts receiving Title X funds again.

2001

• An arson attempt is made on the Kalamazoo Health Center resulting in $5,000 in damage but no actual fire.
• Lunelle, a new contraceptive injection, is introduced.
• In January, the Michigan law requiring premarital counseling is revoked.
• A Teen Clinic hosted by Project T.R.U.S.T. begins at the Battle Creek Health Center.
• PPSCM sets new all-time records of clients seen for family planning services in both the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Health Centers.
• Plans are developed to expand the Battle Creek site with double the square footage to accommodate the increase in client numbers and house an education/resource library section.
• The agency wins PPFA's Affiliate Excellence Award for clinical training of professionals.

2002

• The number of clients served in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek continues to increase in both family planning and surgical services, reaching historical record highs.
• Calhoun County Health Department and the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department eliminate their family planning services late in 2002, transferring their clients and state funding to PPSCM.
• Renovations at the Battle Creek Health Center, which double its size, help serve a 60% increase in client visits.
• Medical and nursing students, residents, physician's assistants, medical assistants, and nurse practitioners from WMU, MSU, GVSU, KVCC, Olympia and other institutions of higher learning receive clinical training at both PPSCM Health Centers.
• Co-sponsored the "Freedom IS Choice Rally for Reproductive Rights" Rally in Bronson Park.
• A teen clinic is added to the Kalamazoo site (Team T.A.L.K.), adapting from the continuing success of Project T.R.U.S.T. in Battle Creek.
• Two new birth control methods, the Ortho Evra patch and the Nuva Ring, become available while Lunelle is removed from the market with questions as to its return.

2004

• PPSCM coordinated efforts for hundreds of local supporters to attend the March for Women's Lives in Washington D.C. on April 24 — the largest march in U.S. history with an estimated 1.15 million participants (5,000 from Michigan). It gets no press coverage other than the Washington Post.
• PPSCM won the PPFA Affiliate Excellence Award for "Special Efforts Serving Teens."
• PPSCM achieved 4 year PPFA affiliate accreditation.
• Cosponsored a pro-choice Rally in Bronson Park.
• The Center for Leadership in Sexuality Education reached more than 10,000 adults & teens.
• Provision of Emergency Contraception continued increasing with over 7,000 prescriptions dispensed.
• Battle Creek & Kalamazoo health centers reached near capacity for both medical and educational program provision which increased efforts to find solutions to forward our mission.

2005

• PPSCM becomes one of the first in Michigan to offer a new female sterilization method Essure® — a less invasive procedure with no incisions and little anesthesia.
• Project T.R.U.S.T. teens were privileged to meet and listen to Archbishop Desmond Tutu during the Great Lakes Region "PeaceJam Slam."
• PPSCM joins other Battle Creek agencies in providing services through "Community Houses."
• The agency website www.ppscm.org adds the ability to accept donations online.
• A color copier is leased & all agency printing is now done in-house.
• PPSCM won the Affiliate Excellence Award in Community Education for working to lower the infant mortality, teen pregnancy & STI rates by recruiting and educating health promoters as part of the Healthy Babies-Healthy Start program.#
• Capital Campaign for the building in Battle Creek and renovations and expansion in Kalamazoo commences with great participation from supporters and a feasibility study.

2006

• PPSCM celebrated its 40th anniversary.
• We launched our first capital campaign in 20 years "Building for Tomorrow," a $4.6 million campaign to create two modern facilities that will accommodate significant increases in demand for our healthcare services and educational programs.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the Michigan PlanFirst! Program, a five-year family planning waiver through which the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) provides access to reproductive healthcare for eligible Michigan women who otherwise could not afford it.
• PPSCM offered the HPV Vaccine to its clients starting in October.
• Healthy Babies-Healthy Start received Planned Parenthood Federation of America's Affiliate and Volunteer Excellence Award in Community Education for its effective education and outreach strategies to lower infant mortality teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates.
• The Center for Leadership in Sexuality Education created its first ever training catalog for professionals.
• Project T.R.U.S.T. teens and staff attended the International PeaceJam Conference in Denver, Colorado to present their listserv project idea to over 300 teens and educations. 
• The Center held its first ever Planned Parenthood Young Leaders (PPYL) event — "Cocktails for a Cause."
• In November, PPSCM expands by opening a satellite clinic in Albion, taking over family planning clients from the health department there.

2007

• PPSCM opened four new health centers in Three Rivers, Hillsdale, Coldwater and Sturgis taking over family planning services from the Saint Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale County Health Departments.
• In July, Early Pregnancy Loss services were added to assist women experiencing a miscarriage or “failure to develop” pregnancy.
• In June, we successfully added Implanon to our list of birth control methods. Implanon is inserted just beneath the skin of the arm, is over 99% effective and lasts up to three years.
• The new Battle Creek Health Center was built and opened December 26, 2007
• PPSCM received full accreditation from Planned Parenthood Federation in November, confirming our skills in providing PPFA approved family planning and education services.
• We continue to provide training for physician, PA, RN, NP and medical assistant students.
• PPSCM remains the only family planning provider in Michigan receiving funds from MDCH to provide sterilizations for low income Michigan residents.
• The Center for Leadership in Sexuality Education team developed the second biannual PPSCM/TPAC Conference for Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Kalamazoo County: Sex Ed From the Neck Up. Over 70 participants attended the day-long conference and 20+ attended the evening parent workshops.
• Center and Project T.R.U.S.T. team members researched how PPSCM could expand its services to be more inclusive and attentive to the needs of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LBGT) youth.
• The Center worked to develop community supporters of LGBT youth and adults in Calhoun County; working with statewide and local advocacy groups, i.e. “The Peninsula Group”, Kalamazoo Gay & Lesbian Resource Center, local clergy advisory groups, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the Triangle Foundation; conducted focus groups and partnered with Calhoun County Health Department’s Adult Attitude Survey to gauge the community’s readiness for a program of this scope. A grant was submitted to the ARCUS Foundation and in October 2007 the Center was awarded funding to initiate the coalition program.
• Healthy Babies–Healthy Start exceeded their goals for the year. The House to House Program Health Promoters educated 1,669 men, women and teens. Of those 1,240 were participants of 155 House Gatherings, and the remaining 429 people were reached individually in through Street Reach.
• Outreach Specialists made 1,390 contacts, including 249 brief assists and 44 referrals to Case Management and improved access to medical care by accompanying 35 clients to their prenatal medical appointments and provided support and encouragement needed by the clients to keep these appointments.
• The Volunteer Center of Battle Creek awarded Project T.R.U.S.T. two Excellence in Volunteering Awards — the Outstanding Volunteerism in “Health” award sponsored by the Regional Health Alliance and the Dorothy Laimbeer “Group” Award for Volunteer Excellence sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek.
• Project T.R.U.S.T. also established a new partnership with Western Michigan University to develop a formal empirical evaluation component of their youth program. Center and WMU staff developed an evaluation component for PPSCM that satisfied a graduate student’s research requirement. The evaluation method will begin in 2008 and results will be analyzed by September. Contingent upon the quantitative results of the project, the collaborative parties may seek publication in academic journals or conferences per a Memo of Understanding agreement created for the project.
• In July, Mike Pence, (R) Indiana, brought an amendment to the House floor that would have cut all Title X funding to Planned Parenthoods. Within two hours PPFA organized a demonstration outside the House Building at the Capitol and close to 50 “pink shirts” stood up for women’s health and Planned Parenthood. The amendment was defeated the following day.
• Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan (PPAM) helped Planned Parenthood Mid Michigan Alliance (PPMMA) and PPSCM organize a Thanks or Spanks Campaign to “call out” Congressman Tim Walberg from Congressional District 7 for his support of the Pence Amendment. In Battle Creek, a total of 99 new Action Network members signed up, direct phone calls to the office of Congressman Walberg were made and on-line letters of disapproval were sent. Michigan was hugely successful in this statewide Day of Action.
• The first meeting of Kalamazoo Advocates for Planned Parenthood met in August. Close to 20 people attended the meeting to learn about the Pence Campaign and comprehensive medically accurate age appropriate sex education in the schools.
• Planned Parenthood Young Leaders (PPYL), one of our newest groups of volunteers made up of 25-40 year old professionals held 2 events: “Water, Wine & Whoopee” was cancelled due to the threat of severe weather and “Pumpkins and Passion” on Oct. 30 at Cityscape in Downtown Kalamazoo.
• The Inaugural Michigan Policy Summit was held on September 8 in Lansing. The three principle goals of the summit were to: 1) galvanize the progressive community behind an action agenda; 2) elevate the profile of policy priorities; and 3) create a space for lasting relationships developed between progressives from across the state.Main sessions at the summit were on health care, clean energy and education. All participants were asked to join with community members in their region to develop action plans. The Western Region group ended the session with planning a Western Michigan Policy Summit for March of 2008.