Planned Parenthood Health Centers Selected for New Initiative Aimed at Expanding Patient Access to Contraception

New York, NY — Today, as part of the We’re for Her initiative, Bayer announced that four health centers across the country will receive grants from Direct Relief to help provide service to regions where there are high unintended pregnancy rates, steep barriers to accessing essential health care, and pressing need for sexual education. Two of the grantees named are Planned Parenthood affiliates, Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky (PPINK); they will each receive $40,000 to fund innovative projects in 2021, focused on expanding reproductive and sexual health care and education in Indiana and Arkansas.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Planned Parenthood is thrilled to work with other nonprofits, corporate partners, and public health organizations to expand people’s access to expert, high-quality care and accurate health information. We’re grateful that Bayer and Direct Relief support sexual and reproductive health care and education, and understand that all people deserve access to the care they need, when they need it, no matter what.

“Throughout this pandemic, Planned Parenthood has been working to expand access to essential health care, reaching patients and communities in new and innovative ways, and providing sexual and reproductive health care services and information people need to stay healthy during this unprecedented health and economic crisis.  Sexual and reproductive health doesn’t stop for a pandemic, and neither does Planned Parenthood.

With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. As an integral part of the health care system, Planned Parenthood health centers have continued to provide critical health care and education during the pandemic, adjusting delivery of care and education programs to ensure people can access the care and information they need. Sexual and reproductive health care services are time-sensitive and essential, and we work every day to meet the needs of patients in timely and personal ways — whether it’s providing services in a health center, by telehealth, or by phone.

Statement from Nadia Khamis, director of corporate engagement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

We’re proud of this exciting partnership, which will support transformative pilot programs in Indiana, and Arkansas to break down barriers to essential health care.  We hope more organizations will be inspired to similarly innovate through partnerships to expand access to reproductive health care.

PPINK’s program under the new grant focuses on sex education, including the creation of virtual platforms for school and community-based outreach, building their capacities for supporting and reaching young people, and providing online courses to train youth educators.

Statement from, Leslie Montgomery, regional education & outreach manager, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky:

Sex education is a critical component in sexual health, and helps prevent unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual assault, or abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted disparities in access to care for people who need it most.  And so we’re grateful for the We’re for Her initiative and the support it provides in creating innovative approaches to virtual contraception education. PPINK’s educational programming already serves hundreds of vulnerable people, including young people each year; new digital resources will increase the impact of our outreach to those we can’t reach directly. The education we can provide to one person has the potential to inform entire families, their friends, and loved ones. Information is power, and we want all our communities to feel empowered to live the healthy lives they deserve.

PPGP’s program in Arkansas will reduce physical access barriers to care for patients, with an emphasis on providing physical coordination support for uninsured or underinsured patients.

Statement from Brandon Hill, Ph.D, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains:

For too many patients in Little Rock, a lack of access to transportation isn’t just an inconvenience: it’s a barrier to health care. Transportation has historically and systemically contributed to health inequities, specifically for Black patients and other patients of color. This grant will pilot a program to bridge the gap in transportation disparities and increase access to high quality sexual and reproductive health care for the Little Rock community.

Planned Parenthood's mission is to build a world in which every person — regardless of their race, income, insurance, gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, or immigration status — can access expert, compassionate sexual and reproductive health care, information, and education without shame or judgment.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to the principles of inclusive sustainable development throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.