FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2005

Contact:
Julio Marcial, TCWF
(818) 702-1900

ARTICLE SURVEYS IMPACT OF FEDERAL AND STATE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAWS AND POLICIES

New Article by The Guttmacher Institute Examines Data on Adolescent Access to Confidential Health Services

Woodland Hills — A new article, “Teen Access to Confidential Reproductive Health Services,” by The Guttmacher Institute, summarizes studies and polls measuring the impact of federal and state parental notifications laws and policies throughout the United States. A full list of citations is provided, and the article is also available on The Guttmacher Institute’s website: www.guttmacher.org.

“A significant body of research indicates that teens who give birth have poor maternal and child health outcomes when compared to those who postpone childbearing until their 20s,” said Gary L. Yates, TCWF president and CEO. “Access to reproductive health care and the provision of comprehensive sexuality education are important aspects of ensuring that teens have the information and services they need to make responsible choices about their sexual health. The Guttmacher Institute’s article provides useful current and historical background on this topic.”

This article provides updated information on:

• current federal and state policies on parental notification;
• the results of public opinion polls administered over the past decade in the United States; and
• minors’ access to contraceptive services and parental involvement in minors’ medical decisions, on a state-by-state basis.

The California Wellness Foundation is a private, independent foundation created in 1992, with a mission to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention. The Foundation prioritizes eight issues for funding: diversity in the health professions, environmental health, healthy aging, mental health, teenage pregnancy prevention, violence prevention, women’s health, and work and health. It also responds to other timely health issues or special projects outside the funding priorities.

Since its first year of operation, TCWF has awarded 4,093 grants totaling approximately $493 million. It is one of the state’s largest private foundations, providing an average of $40 million in grants each year in pursuit of its mission. Please visit TCWF’s website at www.tcwf.org for more information.

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