Check Out Health Department's Family Planning Services

Family planning is a combination of services provided to our community through the Highlands County Health Department.

These services are key factors in preventing unintended or unwanted pregnancy, including adolescent pregnancy. Family planning helps by reducing the incidence of unplanned or unintended pregnancy, but also reduces the number of abortions. Another positive result of reducing unintended pregnancy is that it improves positive birth outcomes.

Family planning services are available to help women manage the timing and spacing of births. This helps ensure that the women are more mentally, physically and financially ready to have a child.

Very often, family planning clinics are the avenues to the health care system, which ultimately provide health screenings and referrals for acute and chronic health care problems. Without access to the local health department's family planning services, many clients would not receive any health care services. Identification of health problems early on allows the patient to receive the care and treatment they may require to manage their acute or chronic health care condition. This treatment and monitoring will enable them to have a better pregnancy and delivery and to give birth to a healthier baby.

Family planning is also instrumental in identifying high-risk patients and referring them for appropriate follow-up and referrals to Healthy Start, WIC and other community programs.

Family planning information, education and services also help decrease the numbers and the impact of sexually transmitted diseases through proper screening and treatment. A person may be infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and may potentially infect others without showing any signs or symptoms of the disease. It is for this reason family planning services include screening and treatment of STDs. Counselors work with patients to discuss how to reduce risks for getting and spreading STDs. A provider may examine and counsel the patient and prescribe the appropriate treatment. These services are provided in strict confidence and are available to anyone seeking care, testing or treatment.

The Highlands County Health Department offers a comprehensive assortment of family planning services to the women and men of reproductive age in our area. Once eligibility has been determined, these services are provided based on the individual's income, using a sliding fee scale. Clients who have incomes up to 100 percent of the current federal level are not charged for services.

What Is Provided In Family Planning?

•Complete health history

•Pre-examination education session

•Pre-pregnancy counseling

•Health education

•A physical examination

•Lab tests as indicated, including HIV and pregnancy testing

•Selection of FDA approved birth control method

•Provision of birth control supplies

•Post-examination interview and follow-up

•Educational materials

•Breast and cervical cancer screening

•Diagnosis and treatment of minor gynecological problems, including sexually transmitted diseases

•Referral and linkage to other programs such as Healthy Start, WIC, Medicaid

In addition to the services listed, counseling and referrals for subsidized sterilization services are also offered for low-income men and women on a sliding fee basis.

For more information, call 863-386-6040 in Sebring, or 863-465-2252 in Lake Placid.