California Family Health Council, Inc.

California providers get EC materials from this campaign FREE!

The goal of this Title X funded project sponsored by the California Family Health Council is to increase awareness of Emergency Contraception among providers and patients as a second chance to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

For the last 6 years this campaign has reached over 700 medical providers and 20 hospitals across the State of California with emergency contraception (EC) research, policy updates, client education materials, and onsite technical assistance.

In 2006, to celebrate National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day, the California Family Health Council, Inc. (CFHC), released a new series of public service videos promoting teen awareness of and access to Emergency Contraception as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce teen pregnancy in the state.

The videos and supporting materials, including posters and information cards on emergency contraception were distributed to public service directors and news editors at broadcast outlets across California, as well as to health clinics, colleges and community organizations that serve youth. Available in English and Spanish, the videos are also posted on CFHC’s www.teensource.org, a national website developed by teens for teens providing information on sexual health.

Emergency Contraception (EC) pills were approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for prescription use under the brand name Plan B in 1999. EC pills contain birth control hormones, which can be taken within 5 days after sex to help prevent a pregnancy. EC pills provide a boost of hormones, which work primarily to delay or inhibit ovulation and may prevent fertilization or implantation, but will not work if a woman is already pregnant.