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Family Planning Stories From the Field: Wisconsin
As advocates for domestic and international family planning, the Global Population and Environment Program works to highlight family planning stories within the U.S. and abroad. It is imperative that we understand the intrinsic connections between women's health and the health of the environment so that we can better advocate for the U.S. government to support family planning and reproductive health programs around the world.
Family Planning Health Services - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Health Administrator Receives National Leadership Award
Lon Newman became Executive Director of FPHS in 1988. As the third Executive Director of FPHS, he has worked diligently to advance the health of central Wisconsin families. He was a strong member of the team that led the way to create and pass the Wisconsin Family Planning Waiver (FPW) legislation in 1997. He fought over five years for the implementation of the FPW to provide free reproductive health care for low-income Wisconsin women. FPHS recently launched a statewide initiative called the EC (Emergency Contraception) Campaign. The agency has installed a statewide toll-free hotline number (1-877-975-9858) that women anywhere in Wisconsin can call to obtain Emergency Contraception. When calls come into the toll-free number, eligible women can be enrolled in the Wisconsin Family Planning Waiver and after a medical history screening, arrangements can be made for the caller to obtain EC in a timely manner. FPHS has begun statewide promotion of this toll-free number, raising awareness of this option to prevent pregnancy and reduce unintended pregnancies. Newman created his newest outreach and access tool, the "Contraceptive Kiosk" in 2003. He currently has four "Contraceptive Kiosks" that are placed on college campuses (or could be placed elsewhere in the community) that allow Wisconsin women to enroll in the FPW and request contraception by using this electronic media. When the kiosk transmits the information to the FPHS headquarters, a family planning nurse contacts the individual to obtain a medical history. If the woman qualifies for the FPW, steps are taken to enroll her in the program. She is given information about obtaining "contraception in advance." The FPHS nurse is then able to send her three months of contraceptive supplies (as well as EC in advance). Within that time frame an exam is scheduled or records are obtained that will allow her to continue that contraceptive method until her next reproductive health exam. That a man has become one of the most visible advocates for women in Wisconsin is by itself noteworthy. As Newman's nominator says, "He has and continues to provide passionate, yet reasoned, views on the ever-contentious issue of family planning and reproductive health care." A member of the FPHS Board of Directors calls him a "respected, always positive and inspirational spokesperson and worker for women's health and reproductive choice in Wisconsin." Read an interview with advocates for Emergency Contraception Find out more information about EC here.
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