History of Success
CCRF has always defined "reproductive health" in the broadest possible sense, as evidenced by the coalition's work on a wide range of issues, detailed below. In addition, the coalition has worked in all arenas in which California public policy is made: Legislative, Budgetary, Regulatory, Administrative, Judicial, Ballot Initiatives, and Public Education.
Health Education in Schools
- Helped pass SB71 - legislation to reform current law regarding sex education in the schools
- Continually supported comprehensive health education in grades K-12 (including family life program)
- Worked on legislation to include HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in school's curriculum
- Committed to defeating legislation that prohibited discussion of homosexuality in schools
- Led the fight to have California be the only state to refuse federal abstinence only funds
- Actively lobbied for successful legislation to require that sexuality education use curricula that is medically accurate and free of race and gender bias
Family Planning & Contraception
- Designed and developed the Office of Family Planning and grant program to clinics
- Worked to restore funding for services when Governor Deukmejian eliminated all monies
- Created concept and worked for creation and continual expansion of the Family PACT Program (now includes males and all women at risk of becoming pregnant, including lesbians)
- Ensured that all new FDA approved methods are included in state family planning programs and on the Medi-Cal formulary
- Supported emergency contraception public education programs, EC inclusion in state programs and requirement of EC use in all hospitals providing sexual assault services
- Designed and supported successful legislation to include contraceptive coverage in all health insurance pharmaceutical plans
- Involved in opposing Catholic charities lawsuit exempting them from the above law
Adolescent Health Care
- Fight for minor's access to confidential services including involvement in Lundgren vs. AAP County Supreme Court decision guaranteeing minor's right to consent to abortion
- Supports development and expansion of school-based, school-linked health services
- Supported development and funding of adolescent pregnancy and parenting programs
- Opposes all efforts to prevent students from leaving schools to seek confidential health care services
- Developed and continues to distribute in English and Spanish health education materials for parents on "how to talk to your children about reproductive health"
Religion and Health Care
- Historically has fought efforts to allow faith-based organizations to receive state program funds unless a firewall exists between faith activities and the program funded
- With hospital mergers have consistently attempted to ensure that all reproductive health services are provided including sterilizations at time of delivery if there is genuine desire and consent from the woman.
Women/Fetus/Child Relationships
- Opposed efforts for mandatory without consent HIV/AIDS testing of pregnant women
- Also opposed efforts to test without consent at delivery all mothers and babies for drug and alcohol abuse
- Obtain language in California statute that the presence of substance use does not in itself imply child abuse
- Oppose efforts to require women on welfare programs to use Norplant, etc. to prevent future pregnancies as a condition for receiving funds
Access to care
- Fought both in the legislature and courts to restore prenatal care for undocumented women, services eliminated by Governor Wilson
- Opposed proposition 187 eliminating health services for undocumented persons
- Supported MediCal increases in reimbursement for health services and new billing codes for counseling, health education and psychosocial services to increase provider participation and economic stability for clinics
Abortion
- Consistently oppose any efforts to limit a woman's decision regarding reproductive care including all attempts to define the fetus as a person
- Historically fought any efforts to require waiting periods, partner consent, unnecessary medical procedures and reporting requirements as a condition for abortion
- Supports maintaining California as one of 13 states that provides state funded MediCal abortions
- Oppose anti-choice car license plate legislation with funds to go to pregnancy crisis centers
- Supported legislation to allow advanced method practitioner within their scope of practice to participate in nonsurgical abortions (RU486)
- Members played key leadership roles in developing and passing the Reproductive Privacy Act in 2002 increasing access to abortion and ensuring access for the future.