The Provision of Public-Sector Family Planning Services: U.S. Family Planning Clinics in 2003

Laura Lindberg, The Alan Guttmacher Institute
Jennifer J. Frost, The Alan Guttmacher Institute

Publicly-funded family planning clinics are a critical source of contraceptive and gynecological care for millions of low-income American women. This paper reports the findings from a new nationally representative survey of publicly-funded family planning agencies and clinics conducted in 2003 and compares these data with similar studies conducted in 1995 and 1999. We assess whether there have been changes in the types and range of contraceptive and reproductive health services offered by clinics, review the policies that guide contraceptive service provision by clinics and the educational and outreach programs that support this care, and explore the impact of funding changes on the ability of publicly funded clinics to meet the contraceptive needs of American women. The findings from this analysis are intended to assist both program planners and policy-makers working to shape the future structure and level of public funding allocated to support family planning clinic services.