"Budget constraints"
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte is discontinuing programs at Sierra High School in Truckee and the California Conservation Corps in Meyers, the Sierra Sun reports. Truckee is in Nevada County; Meyers in El Dorado County.
Based in San Jose, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte operates 33 "health centers" and more than 20 "satellite sites" in 18 counties, mostly in California, although a few are in northern Nevada. According to federal tax documents on file with the California Attorney General, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte had gross revenues of $74,779,374 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 – the last year for which the information was available.
Between 2002 and 2007, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte showed a $27.9 million increase in net assets, according to IRS documents. Most of the organization's income comes from federal and state government funding. For example, according to tax documents, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte received 81% of its income from government funds in 2006.
Despite the government's largesse, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte decided to eliminate the programs at Sierra High School and at the California Conservation Corps in Meyers in part because of "budget constraints," the Sierra Sun reported.
"We need to focus our staff on addressing the needs of our patients who come into our offices," Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Alison Gauldin told the Sun. "Our customers are telling us they don't need us to come to them, they're coming to us."
"We regret leaving Sierra High School and Meyers, but our resources will be used more effectively at the Tahoe City Center, which will undergo expanded hours and services," Gauldin told the Sun.
"Gauldin said individuals in Truckee and Meyers may have transportation/access issues in getting to Tahoe City, the nearest Planned Parenthood office in both cases," reported the Sun.
According to the newspaper, "The programs held in Meyers and Truckee consisted of some educational components but mainly offered consultations to young women seeking birth control pills. The consultations were attended by a nurse practitioner and a health care assistant, according to Gauldin."
Sierra High School is one of four high schools operated by the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District, according to the website Education.com. It is a continuation school offering "alternative education" to 67 students in grades 9-12, says the website. Enrollment is 52% Hispanic and 66% female, according to Education.com.
The California Conservation Corps center in Meyers – about two miles west of Lake Tahoe – is a residential facility for 84 members of the Conservation Corps, says the CCC homepage. The California Conservation Corps "is for young men and women ages 18 to 25," says the CCC website.
