Friday, December 1, 2023
12/1/2023
Founded in 1975, the Family Health Centers of Georgia (FHCGA) has a record of more than forty years of expanding access to health care for low income individuals and families. In 2014, and again in 2017 and 2018, FHCGA was awarded the Title X grant to implement a family planning program throughout the state of GA through the Georgia Family Planning System (GFPS). The GFPS is the largest and most ambitious effort in the nation integrating Title X family planning services into federally funded primary care health centers. The GFPS is comprised of a network of 31 sub-recipient agencies, of which 26 are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The remaining 5 sub-recipients are Grady Health System, Women of Worth, Christ Community Health Services, Clay County Community Health Center, and Empowerment Resource Center. The GFPS has had extraordinary success addressing the challenges of integrating quality family planning and primary care in the state, serving an estimated 150,000 in CY18. As of 04/01/2019, family planning services will be provided at 160 sites. Title X funds for the upcoming project period will be used to build on the successes of the GFPS and will result in the delivery of high quality family planning services to the low-income, underserved women, men, and adolescents residing in each of GA?s 159 counties. In 2019-2020, the first year of the new project period, the GFPS anticipates providing Title X family planning services to 170,000 patients, at least 75% of whom will have incomes below 100% of the FPG. The number of patients served will grow to 185,000 in 2020-2021, and 200,000 in 2021-2022.The need for comprehensive family planning and preventive health services offered by Title X providers is substantial. GA?s unintended pregnancy rate is the 7th highest in the US. Women in GA experience higher rates of breast cancer mortality, obesity, low birth weight, and preterm birth than the U.S. average. The infant mortality rate of 7.2 per 1,000 live births is higher than the national rate of 5.9. An estimated 695,120 women are in need of publicly supported family planning services in the state, a 7% increase since 2010. The percentage of male users of Title X services nationwide has more than doubled from 2003 (4.5%) to 2016 (11%). The GFPS is leading this trend with 27% of its users in 2017 being male, an increase from 22% in 2015. (Sources: Guttmacher Institute, 2016 and 2017; WONDER, CDC, 2016; BRFSS, CDC, 2017; OASIS GA Dept. of Health, 2017; NVSR, CDC, 2018; Natl. Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, 10/2015; ?More Men Using Family Planning Services,? CDC, 6/16/2016; ?Title X Annual Family Planning Report, 2016 Natl. Summary,? OPA, 8/2017). Since 2014, FHCGA has built a robust family planning project which is responsive to statewide need. In the next 3 years, the project will continue its upward trajectory by expanding services in rural areas through telehealth, a mobile application, mobile units, and increasing FHCGA direct family planning services to ensure that residents of every county in Georgia have access to a broad range of family planning services; providing education and services in GA school districts; using patient data to improve patient care and program management; improving integration between family planning and substance use disorder treatment services; using program data to improve pregnancy outcomes for patients with co-morbidities; and continuing FHCGA?s rigorous oversight and management of the GFPS project, including regular site visits, data monitoring, technical assistance and training to assure high quality services and compliance with all Title X requirements.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
