Latinos for Planned Parenthood

LATINOS FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Latinos face greater obstacles to obtaining, and benefitting from, sexual and reproductive health services than non-Latino white Americans. As a result, Latinos experience higher rates of reproductive cancers, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections than most other groups of people in the U.S.

Planned Parenthood works every day with Latinos to improve the quality of their health care and to help them protect themselves and their families through education, preventive care, and lifesaving screenings for cancer and other health problems. As the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider, our health centers provide contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and lifesaving cancer screenings to millions, including over 620,000 Latinos each year. Our local partners in Latin America annually serve 1.2 million individuals.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. We work in the streets, in the states, and in Washington, DC, protecting reproductive rights and ensuring access to quality, affordable care for all. We also partner with Latino social justice organizations to encourage civic participation and engagement in the Latino community.

Latinos for Planned Parenthood is a coordinated effort to engage Latinos across the country as patients, advocates and supporters.

LATINO ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Planned Parenthood’s innovative programs around the country create awareness, educate, and connect Latinos to high-quality, low-cost health care services and information in their community. We reach adults and teens, parents and students, young and old where they live, work, and play.

Featured Program of the Month: Youth Health Messengers, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW)

Through the Youth Health Messengers (YHMs) program, PPMW trains bilingual, Latino teen peer leaders and advocates with reproductive health information, as well as prevention strategies for sexually transmitted infections, breast cancer, and domestic and relationship violence. Peer leadership has been a proven strategy to provide critical information and change risky behaviors. By using community advocacy, YHMs reach out to peers and community members in their schools, community venues and events.

YHMs are strongly motivated to help improve lives in their communities, and they have been active in advocacy and civic engagement with elected officials and community stakeholders. Some of the events the YHMs have attended include: organizing a Virginia Pro-Choice rally, and they were invited to a White House visit for a Youth and HIV/AIDS meeting to help brainstorm community and school-based interventions for HIV. In 2010, Youth Health Messengers reached over 45,000 individuals.

Youth Health Messengers on Capitol Hill at Planned Parenthood’s 2009 annual Organizing and Policy Summit.

Youth Health Messengers at a Phonebank