COALITION FOR FAMILY HEALTH LAUNCHES WEBSITE

Representatives of the statewide Coalition for Family Health today announced the launch of the group’s first website. Formed eleven months ago, the Coalition for Family Health provides its member organizations—public and private organizations (for profit and nonprofit) and government agencies—with an organized voice to advocate for (1) public policies and practices that promote the prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections/diseases and (2) the rights of each individual and family to safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare services. Currently composed of more than thirty member organizations, the Coalition has identified the passage of the Ohio Prevention First Act (OPFA) as its chief priority.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Judi Wolf of the National Council of Jewish Women, which serves as the Coalition’s convening organization, hailed the new website and its potential value for advocates and the general public alike. Said Mrs. Wolf, “Our goal was to create a clear and concise resource in the form of an accessible website, and I believe we have achieved just that. With this online presence, we have not only extended our reach, but we have also improved the efficiency of efforts to connect and inform our membership. Given the dynamic nature of the issues with which we are working and the complexities of the legislative process, the website offers an incredibly effective means of communication—one that we intend to maintain with great care.”

The comprehensive site, located at http://www.coalitionforfamilyhealth.org., includes detailed information on the status of the Ohio Prevention First Act and its breakout bills; membership guidelines for interested groups; registration details for forthcoming events including the Coalition’s annual Columbus meeting scheduled for September 22, 2009; and an up-to-date roster of Coalition member organizations. Password-protected “members only” pages provide a forum for interactive discussion and facilitate the sharing of best practices. According to a 2005 survey, nearly 90% of Ohio’s voters support access to contraception and public funding of contraception for low income women. Moreover, providing more access to contraceptives is viewed by Ohioans as more effective in reducing the number of abortions than enacting more restrictive abortion laws1. “It is time to align public policy with the prevailing public opinion,” Judi Wolf explains. “I am confident that the launch of our website brings us ever closer to that important objective and to the reductions in unwanted pregnancies and sexuallytransmitted diseases that the Coalition for Family Health seeks to achieve.”
 

Return