Issues
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is committed to protecting and expanding New Jerseyans' access to reproductive health services and ensuring reproductive freedom for all. As the leading advocacy group for reproductive rights in New Jersey, we are dedicated to fighting for:
- Safe and legal abortion
- Accessible birth control options
- Affordable and accessible health insurance
- State-level family planning funding
- Comprehensive sexual education
- Reproductive justice
- And more!
Issue Overview
Download our policy primer for volunteers for a review of the many issues we advocate for.
Abortion Access
Everyone should have the freedom to make their own personal health care decisions, and be able to access the care they need, without barriers, fears, or interference from others. In New Jersey, the right to abortion is protected in state law, but there is much more to do to ensure that everyone - no matter your identity, income, insurance coverage, or immigration status - can access care.
We support the Reproductive Equity Act (S2918/A4350), legislation recently introduced in New Jersey that will strengthen reproductive health protections by breaking down economic and logistical barriers to abortion care. Read more about the bill below, and then email your legislators to share your support for this bold, progressive legislation.
Funding for Reproductive Health Services
Protecting access to reproductive health services isn't just about keeping politicians from interfering with an individual's personal medical decisions. It also requires us to ensure that all patients have access to the reproductive health services they need, regardless of their income, insurance coverage, or immigration status. Ensuring strong and diverse family planning funding streams in our state is a priority for PPAFNJ.
From reproductive health care funding in the New Jersey state budget, to the federal Title X family planning program, to adequate reimbursement for our safety-net health centers through public insurance programs like Medicaid, policy that supports reproductive health care funding helps ensure that all New Jerseyans, regardless of income, have access to the critical reproductive health care they need, when they need it.
Reproductive Justice
Protecting access to reproductive health services is a major goal for PPAFNJ. Still, we know that access to these services is only one part of ensuring reproductive freedom for New Jerseyans. True reproductive justice happens when all individuals can maintain control over their own bodies, have children, not have children, and parent their children in safe and sustainable communities.
We are a member of the Thrive New Jersey coalition, which uses a reproductive justice lens to advocate for intersectional issues that impact the health and lives of New Jerseyans. Our issues include abortion access, sex education, menstrual equity, maternal health, and more.
Sex Education
While New Jersey has some of the more comprehensive sex education standards in the nation, there is still much that needs to change to ensure that all New Jersey students receive the best sex education possible. This includes moving away from sex education requirements that stress abstinence and do not fully educate students on safer sex practices, which research shows can contribute to their risk of too-early pregnancy and infections.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ and partner organizations collaborated on New Jersey's Sex Ed Report Card, which highlight more ways progressive policy can help our state's young people get all the information and skills they need from trained educators in order to make healthy decisions and lead healthy lives.