Concerns raised over family planning services in the Southern Tier

The Ithaca Journal Brings: Concerns raised over family planning services in the Southern Tier

BINGHAMTON — A local family planning nonprofit on Monday raised concerns about a potential turf war for abortion services in the Southern Tier.

Family Planning of South Central New York, Inc. — formerly the local chapter of Planned Parenthood — split from the national group early this year in response to a mandate that all Planned Parenthood chapters begin providing abortion services. The local group does not provide abortion services at any of its offices, but instead refers women to nearby abortion providers.

In response to disaffiliation of its former Binghamton-based chapter, Planned Parenthood on March 29 approved a measure to have a different chapter take over its territory in Broome, Delaware, Chenango and Otsego counties.

“We believe that this is a thinly-disguised attempt to threaten the finances and mission of an established, health department-supported program simply because we left the Planned Parenthood brand,” Family Planning of South Central New York CEO Debra Marcus said at a news conference Monday.

Under the national group’s plan, family planning and abortion functions in the four-county area would be turned over to the Ithaca-based Planned Parenthood of Southern Finger Lakes chapter.

Marcus expressed concerns the move would potentially lead to duplication of services, and threaten funding sources, including the approximately $1 million in state and federal funds the organization receives annually. The nonprofit’s annual budget is slightly more than $3 million.

“I want to make clear we are not opposed to competition,” Marcus said. “We don’t want to duplicate. We want to cooperate.”

Binghamton Mayor Matthew T. Ryan and Access for Women Director Peg Johnston also spoke at Monday’s news conference in opposition to Planned Parenthood’s decision.

In a written statement, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes CEO Joe Sammons said the organization “has a long history of working collaboratively with existing private and public family planning providers, including Planned Parenthood health centers across New York state.”