Mayor Kraham Announces Partnership to Expand Healthcare Access for Underserved Young Women in Binghamton

City, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Partner to Fund New Position at Family Planning of South Central New York

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)-Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Thursday joined officials from Family Planning of South Central New York and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to announce a new program to expand healthcare access for underserved young women in the City of Binghamton.

Mayor Jared M. Kraham said: "This partnership will make sure more young women in Binghamton have access to the vital medical care they deserve-no matter their income or circumstances. By focusing on underserved populations, the program sets out to improve health outcomes for those most in need. I'm grateful to Family Planning and Excellus for partnering with the City to take this on. Ensuring women have access to these services in their teens and twenties can have a huge impact on the rest of their lives."

The City and Excellus will fund a new position at Family Planning focused on increasing the number of women ages 16 to 21 who are connected with reproductive medical care, including annual exams and cancer screenings.

Debra Marcus, Chief Executive Officer of Family Planning of South Central New York, Inc., said: "All people should have equal access to reproductive health care. However, the reality is that many do not. Historically marginalized communities face greater barriers to reproductive care and have worse health outcomes because of it. By building trusted relationships, we can support those who are disconnected from services in accessing the care they need. While this program would include hiring a new position, this kind of work is not new to our organization. We have past experience with a similar program targeting the most marginalized persons with the least resources. That program, while operated in another local county, was successful in helping participants develop reproductive life plans, access medical care, and resume school or find viable employment. This program will provide a safe, affirming, and confidential environment for participants to set personal goals regarding their reproductive health; support to progress towards those goals; and removal of barriers that prevent participants from achieving those goals."

The new position will also offer comprehensive sexual health education and provide clients with referrals to other medical providers and community-based organizations, such as mental health counseling and educational support, as needed.

Jessica Cox, Regional President, Southern Tier Region for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, said: "We are thrilled to provide funding to Family Planning of South Central New York for additional resources necessary for their women's comprehensive health education services. By advocating for comprehensive health services and collaborating with Family Planning of South Central New York and the City of Binghamton and Mayor Kraham, we can create a future where women have access to the resources they need to make informed choices for their futures. Together, we can build a society that values the health and well-being of all its members, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for generations to come."

The City will allocate $50,000 to the program, and Excellus will contribute $20,000.

City funding for the program comes from the $1 million youth fund Mayor Kraham announced in late 2022. The fund allocates federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support programs and services for City of Binghamton children and teenagers.