Local Organization Receives Multi-Million Dollar Grants for Natural Family Planning, HIV Testing and Family Planning Servic...( PHILADELPHIA Oct. 28 -- The Fami...),Health

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Family Planning Council was recently awarded three grants from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for a total of $3 million. These grants will support state-of-the-art research in three important health care areas: the use of Natural Family Planning as a method of birth control among American women; expanding HIV testing for women; and, creating a model program to provide family planning services to men.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the Council and is testament to the diversity and vibrancy of our organization," declared Dorothy Mann, Executive Director, Family Planning Council. "We will be conducting ground breaking research and making tremendous strides in improving services for women and men in our community," Mann added.

-- The vast majority of patients in traditional family planning programs

are female. Funded for five years, the new male services program will

explore ways to make family planning programs more welcoming to men.

"If we are going to be successful in preventing unintended

pregnancy, we need to serve men," said Tristan Ruby, Director of

Adolescent & Male Programs. "After all, women do not get

pregnant by themselves and we know that men want to be responsible when

it comes to preventing pregnancy," Ruby added.

-- Funded for three years, the project on Natural Family Planning will

explore consumers' knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding

Natural Family Planning. This project will identify ways to reduce

barriers for consumers who want to use this method of family planning.

-- The project on HIV testing, also funded for three years, will evaluate

options for improving HIV testing for women in family planning programs.

The Family Planning Council is a private, non-profit organization. It funds 29 local he
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