KING COUNTY, WA - In an effort to promote the health and wellbeing of County residents, Public Health - Seattle & King County today launched Family Planning webpages. These pages offer online information on reproductive health for women and men, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, outreach and education services, and more.
The new Public Health Family Planning webpages can be found at www.metrokc.gov/health/famplan
"These new webpages are part of our continued effort to provide King County residents with accurate and up-to-date information online," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "We want to empower people so they may better access services and can make well-informed decisions about their health."
"Family planning is an essential part of healthy families and healthy communities," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "By preventing diseases and unintended pregnancies, family planning services help promote the general well-being of our community."
The new Family Planning webpages include:
- Clinical practice guidelines: Public Health guidelines for health care providers working with sexual health and birth control issues.
- Parent tools and resources
- Educator's Toolbox: A variety of materials to support educators including Family Life and Sexual Health (F.L.A.S.H.) lesson plans, the values question protocol, and advice on how to deal with controversy and difficult questions. Handouts, slideshows, games and activities for teaching about sexuality, HIV and STDs.
- Tips on making clinics and practices teen friendly
- Resources and services: Information about accessing birth control and sexual health services in King County.
"Family planning is not just about birth control," said Michelle Pennylegion, coordinator for Public Health's Family Planning Health Education and Outreach Program. "For many people, family planning services are an entry point into health care and other services, like cancer screenings."
Content for the Family Planning webpages was developed by a team of professionals from a range of disciplines, and the information is presented in a format and language accessible to adults, educators, youth and providers. "Access to reliable information is a first step in getting care and preventing health problems," added Pennylegion.
