Multiple organizations pledged nearly $2 million in temporary funding to continue the Colorado Family Planning Initiative, a contraceptive program through Colorado that reduced teen birth and abortion rates by 48 percent between 2009 and 2014.
The initiative, which was initially reliant upon a large private donation for funding, ran out of money in June. The absence of funding left many family clinics struggling to provide women with the long-acting implant contraceptives the program is known for, according to a statement from the Department of Public Health and Environment.
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Now, with the new funding from various health organizations, the group plans to continue training health care providers, educating the public and also subsidizing as many as 6,000 contraceptives.
“We are grateful for the generosity of so many visionary organizations,” said Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “With their help, we will continue to empower Colorado women to achieve their goals by choosing if and when they want to start a family.”
The $2 million in contributions are temporary, and the state health department plans on finding a sustainable funding option through the state legislature, according to the release.
Collegian Executive Editor Skyler Leonard can be reached at sleonard@collegian.com or on Twitter @skyler_leonard.
