Impact of Oklahoma's defunding of Planned Parenthood.

[sinkingfeeling]

Here's what the local PP sent out today:

Dear friends,
We have new information we’d like to share with you regarding the lawsuit to protect access to the Women Infants & Children (WIC) Program for families who rely on Planned Parenthood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Today our legal team filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to preserve the WIC Program at three of our area health centers. A preliminary injunction will allow us to continue providing services to our WIC patients past December 31, 2012, while our lawsuit proceeds through the court system.

Our biggest concern is the grave impact this decision would have on the 3,000 women and families who rely on Planned Parenthood for WIC services every month. The Tulsa World interviewed low-income women who count on Planned Parenthood WIC services to feed their children.

One of the women contacted a few other local WIC providers and found there is a three- to four-month wait for WIC services. Three months is an impossibly long time during the crucial developmental stages of pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. This is when our patients need us the most. We are seeking a preliminary injunction to protect these very patients’ access to such a critically important nutrition program.

The next step is waiting for the court to schedule a hearing on the injunction request. At that time, the court will rule on whether we can continue to provide WIC services past December 31, while the lawsuit continues. It’s unknown as to when this decision will be made, but our hope is that the hearing will be scheduled before the end of the year.

We are doing all we can to prevent the termination of our WIC Program and to ensure that every patient continues to receive the WIC services they need. We are here, no matter what.

Thank you for supporting Planned Parenthood.

[barnabas63]

1. 3 month wait for WIC??!

That's criminal. If we're going to have the program, it needs to be funded and serve the purpose it was created to do.

[CrispyQ]

2. Will send PP some bucks today.

...there is a three- to four-month wait for WIC services. Three months is an impossibly long time during the crucial developmental stages of pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.

So much for the party of "pro-life."

Fuckers.

[madrchsod]

3. the northern illinois county i live in it`s a month

to meet both state and federal approval there`s the first intake session and different classes each week. when wic started it took a week to get approved.

3 months is bullshit