TESTIMONY
Elise Benusa, Government Relations Manager at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, on Requesting Support for Health Programs
5:30:16
·
140 sec
Elise Benusa outlines Planned Parenthood of Greater New York's request for city council funding to support sexual and reproductive health programs.
- Planned Parenthood of Greater New York has provided sexual and reproductive health care and education for over 100 years.
- Benusa highlights the Youth Health Promoters (YHP) program, which educates youth about their rights and access to care through peer engagement.
- She requests continued funding from the city council for the YHP program and other youth-serving initiatives to expand services.
- Funding is also requested for Project Street Beat, targeting outreach and services for vulnerable populations, including immigrants.
- Benusa emphasizes the importance of these programs in providing critical health care services and education in a challenging national context.
Elise Benusa
5:30:16
Good afternoon.
5:30:17
My name is Elise Benusa.
5:30:19
I'm the government relations manager at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
5:30:22
I would like to thank Jairiella and all the committee members for the opportunity to discuss claim fair and not a greater New York's program services and funding requests.
5:30:30
For over a 100 years, PPGNY has been a trusted provider of sexual and reproductive health care education programs for communities throughout New York City.
5:30:38
In 2023, our New York City health centers conducted almost 70,000 patient visits providing care to all those in need regardless of immigration status, identity, or ability to pay for services.
5:30:49
This is why today we respectfully request support from the speakers initiative for our youth health promoters program and youth serving programs.
5:30:57
The YHP's are highly trained peer educators engage other young people and conduct interactive workshops to educate youth about their rights and access to care.
5:31:07
The YHP program is unique and that it taps into credible peer youth messaging to advance sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
5:31:14
For young people throughout New York City.
5:31:16
In 2023, the youth health promoters reached over a 1000 youth at schools and in the community.
5:31:21
Funding from the city council will allow the YHP's to spend their peer engagement work to ensure more young people have access to the care they need.
5:31:29
With ever changing national landscape and continued attempts to restrict access to care, York is seen as a haven for critical healthcare services.
5:31:37
We asked the council to continue to fund PPGNY through the reproductive and sexual and health initiative to allow us to continue to provide sexual and reproductive health care services and educational programs throughout New York City.
5:31:50
PPGNY provides a full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare services that includes gynecological care, STI testing and treatment.
5:31:56
Treatment and testing, contraceptive care, cancer screenings, and LGBTQ plus healthcare at all 5 Rental Centers in New York City.
5:32:05
Another program that allows us to continue serving vulnerable New Yorkers, including our immigrant populations as projects to repeat.
5:32:11
We ask for continued funding support from the from the ending epidemic speakers and HIV AIDS based initiative to support Project Streepie.
5:32:19
Project Streepie provides targeted outreach and services community.
Peggy Herrera
5:32:22
Thank you
UNKNOWN
5:32:23
so much.
5:32:23
Your time has expired.
Elise Benusa
5:32:25
Just one more sentence.
5:32:26
There are mobile health centers and our PSB offices in the Bronx, in Brooklyn.
5:32:30
PPGY continues to be committed to ensuring that all new Yorkers no matter their background get the care they need.
5:32:35
Thank you so much.
