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During COVID-19 Pandemic, Planned Parenthood Keystone Joins National Chat/Text Program to Provide Personalized Virtual Health Information  

Through Chat/Text PPKeystone Educators Get Young People Answers to Questions in Real Time 

[Warminster, PA] – Planned Parenthood Keystone is proud to join the Chat/Text program, Planned Parenthood’s successful national program that allows young people to have live conversations with trained health educators. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person education may not be possible, Chat/Text is one way that young people can get personalized information and resources about their sexual and reproductive health in a safe and confidential way. Young people don’t stop having questions about their sexual health during a pandemic, yet many face current barriers to getting personalized information from trusted sources. As the largest digital sex education program in the country, Chat/Text now includes additional trained educators and extended hours, giving users even more access to trusted support and reliable information — whenever young people need it, wherever they are. 

 “We’re excited to join the national Chat/Text program, which for 10 years has connected youth to information about their sexual and reproductive health when they need it most. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania already faced barriers to accessing medically accurate, compassionate sexual and reproductive health information. This is even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many school-based sexual health resources are limited or no longer available.  

 “Giving young people access to expert educators — during this public health crisis and beyond — helps to ensure that they are equipped with the information they need to protect their health and choose their futures from a safe and trusted resource,” stated Melissa Reed, CEO & President of Planned Parenthood Keystone.   

Chat/Text educators are available every day of the week to answer pressing questions, such as “Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?” or “What do I do if my birth control method is about to expire?, ” Users can chat from the Planned Parenthood website at PlannedParenthood.org/chat or text "PPNOW" to 774636 (PPINFO) to get real-time answers about pregnancy options, birth control, emergency contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Since its launch in 2010, Planned Parenthood’s Chat/Text program has had more than 1.4 million conversations, helping users across all 50 states get the accurate information, resources, and care they need. With a proven history of making a difference in young people’s behavior, the program continues to revolutionize how young people get personalized sex education information, while equipping them with the tools they need to make informed decisions for themselves. Access to sexual and reproductive health care is essential, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chat/Text is just one of the innovative ways that Planned Parenthood is using technology to get people the care and information they need, when they need it and from wherever they are. 

For more information about Chat/Text or other services, or to schedule an appointment, individuals can visit the affiliate’s website at ppkeystone.org. 

Planned Parenthood Keystone’s nine health centers in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania offer a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, and more than 24,000 patients annually depend on Planned Parenthood Keystone for expert, affordable, and compassionate health care. You can visit ppkeystone.org to find the health center nearest you. No matter how you meet us — in-person, online, or via phone — we’re here for you and we’re in this together. 

Planned Parenthood Keystone (PPKeystone) is a non-partisan 501 c(3) organization that operates 9 health centers serving a 37- county region, providing essential health care services and sexuality education. Medical services include birth control, annual gynecological exams, STD testing and treatment, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and options referrals, abortion care, cancer screening and treatment, confidential HIV/AIDS testing, male services and more. Health centers are located in Allentown, Bensalem, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Quakertown, Reading, Warminster, Wilkes-Barre, and York. Visit www.ppkeystone.org. for more information. PPKeystone is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America – the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. 

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