Title X and family planning

The Title X family planning program is a Federal program which provides family planning and related preventive health services for women, men and adolescents. With priority placed on low-income individuals, Title X funds support clinic operations, staff and client services to assist individuals and families to help determine the number and spacing of their children. Title X also sets the standards for the provision of publicly funded family planning services in the United States. Over 15 years ago, the Title X program began a male-focused initiative aimed at increasing access to Title X services, improving the quality of these services and ensuring that males would be linked with appropriate care following their family planning /reproductive health visit. Using a mix of research projects, training and technical assistance and collaboration with other private and state and federal agencies, the Title X program has implemented a system to improve the delivery of family planning services to males. This intervention has led to statistically significant increases in the number of clients served, the STI screening and HIV testing, a decrease in incidence of STI in males as well as an overall increase in the number of female clients at these sites. The Title X program is also continuing to assess the necessary policy changes and clinical practice recommendations to ensure quality family planning and related reproductive health services for males are provided across the lifespan.