FAQ
What is the mission of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest?
The mission of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest is to ensure broad public access to sexual and reproductive health care through direct service, education, and advocacy.
What services does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest provide?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest provides a wide range of affordable, high quality, reproductive health care services at 19 health centers located throughout Imperial, San Diego, and Riverside counties. For a full list of services, learn more here.
We also offer evidence-based and comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health education and training programs to our community. Learn more.
What services do you most frequently provide?
The vast majority of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s medical services are preventive health care: lifesaving cancer screenings, annual exams, birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention, HPV vaccination, abortion, and gender-affirming care. For a full list of services, learn more here.
What communities does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest serve?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest serves all of Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego counties. Our doors are open to everyone.
How many people does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest serve every year?
We provide health services to more than 121,000 people annually and reach an additional 25,000 people through our education, outreach, and training programs.
Do you have a targeted age group? If so what is it?
Our services are available to everyone at any age. Many of our patients are ages 18 to 29. Our education programs typically serve youth ages 12 to 18.
Do you provide services to minors?
Yes. Under California law, minors can access reproductive health care, obtain birth control, and receive abortion services without parental notification or parental consent. The one exception is that minors must be at least 12 years old to consent to and obtain sexually transmitted infections testing and treatment without parental notification.
How does a person pay for their services?
Our health care services are provided at low- or no-cost depending on each individual's income and family size. We accept health insurance, including Medi-Cal and most Covered California and employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Individuals without insurance may still receive no-cost services through California’s Family PACT program if they meet eligibility requirements. For patients who are paying cash, we offer our services on a sliding fee scale. Learn more.
How is Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest funded?
We are funded through a variety of sources including insurance reimbursements, government contracts, private contributions, patient fees, grants, and investments. We also request a nominal cost-sharing fee for some education and training services.
Does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest provide referrals for other services?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest has a robust referral network and case management program for medical follow-up. We also have a Care Coordination program for needs that go beyond sexual and reproductive health care. Learn more.
How does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest build awareness for their services?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest utilizes social media, web, out of home, print, and radio advertising, as well as community-based outreach and education to let people know about our services and programs.
Does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest work with any other organizations?
Yes, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest has many strong and meaningful partnerships throughout our three-county region. We work with individuals and organizations, ranging from schools to community service organizations to churches to other health care providers in order to better understand and meet the needs of the communities we serve, and to collectively and positively impact the physical, social, and economic issues that contribute to unhealthy outcomes in our communities.
What strategies and programs does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest use to prevent teen pregnancy?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s highly trained and knowledgeable staff provides comprehensive sexuality education in schools, juvenile detention centers, community organizations, faith-based institutions, and family groups, and we work with youth to help them build healthy decision-making and refusal skills, establish goals, and develop leadership skills. We also provide valuable information and tools to help parents and caregivers effectively communicate their values while providing the information young people need to make healthy decisions. And we train teachers and other professionals on reproductive health and sexuality education.
What are the barriers for people to receive sexual and reproductive health services and how are those barriers addressed?
Many people are not aware of the services that Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest makes available to them and how to access those services. Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest works to raise awareness of and support for initiatives and policies that protect and improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and education.
Do you use volunteers?
Volunteers are the heart of Planned Parenthood! We rely on volunteers throughout the agency — from our Board of Directors to our outreach volunteers. In fiscal year 2022, 145 volunteers gave 2,054 hours of service to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and our communities.
How does Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest support equity and belonging?
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s vision is a world of equity, where access to health care doesn’t depend on who you are or where you live.
Our commitment to “Respect and honor all people” (part of our In This Together workplace values) means we intentionally work to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported and can contribute their best. We celebrate and encourage diversity in all forms and promote equity through our practices, policies, systems, and behaviors. We are In This Together. Learn More.
Additional resources may be found at guttmacher.org, plannedparenthood.org, or siecus.org.
After perusing our website, if you still have questions about Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest please complete this form or call 619-881-5011. Due to a high volume of requests, it may take at least 24 hours for you to get a reply.