For the past 80 years, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania (PPWP) has served the reproductive health care needs of individuals and families in western Pennsylvania.  Throughout our history we have taken a leadership role in providing reproductive health care services to individuals and families. These services are offered to anyone – regardless of income level or insurance status. This life saving work includes gynecological care, cancer screening, STI screening and treatments and offering a variety of birth controlVoluntary limitation or control of the number of children conceived, especially by planned use of contraceptive techniques. methods to meet the needs of the individual.

In addition to our health care services, PPWP has been providing education services since the 1950s. Today, PPWP’s education department offers a variety of specialized programming to address important social and health issues, including adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, peer pressure and healthy decision making.

PPWP’s mission has the following three components:

•  to provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care to those in need of these services;
• to disseminate information about human sexuality and the need for family planning and responsible parenthood;
• to advocate public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services.

Current Programs and Services:

PPWP provides health care services at five locations: Bridgeville, downtown Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Moon Township,  and Somerset. The fees for medical services at Planned Parenthood are provided on a sliding scale so they are accessible regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. In 2009, PPWP provided nearly 21,000 patient visits to women and men seeking reproductive health care services. Of those clients served, 80% received these services either free or at a reduced cost.

The education department provides comprehensive educational services with programs for youth, parents and professionals in a twelve-county area. More than 24,000 people were reached in Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties last year. Planned Parenthood’s four educators lead an extensive variety of programs, addressing more than two-dozen topics relating to health and human sexuality.