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.
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 standards 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.
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.
Birth Control
Planned Parenthood knows firsthand that access to birth control changes lives, benefiting individuals, families, and communities. Birth control has expanded opportunities for women through increased economic and educational advancement, and improved their health and well-being.
Family Planning Funding
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. Ensuring strong and diverse family planning funding streams in our state is a priority for PPAFNJ.
Abortion Access
Planned Parenthood believes everyone should be able to receive the care they need and plan their families without barriers, fears, or interference from others. The decision about whether and when to become a parent is one of the most personal life decisions we make. We need to trust all people who can become pregnant to make decisions about their own health and lives, such as decisions around birth control and pregnancy-related care, including abortion.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
STI rates in New Jersey are directly impacted by family planning funding - with historic increases in STI infections when family planning funding has been cut.
Breast and Cervical Cancer
Following state budget cuts in 2010, breast and cervical cancer rates rose in New Jersey - especially among Black and Latina women who already face barriers to healthcare due to systemic racism
Contraception
Contraception remains a health priority for many New Jerseyans - many of whom cannot access these services without state-funded family planning programs