The federally-funded family planning network California Family Health Council (CFHC) is looking to expand its Condom Access Project to teenagers in San Diego County this May.
In all, the program allows teens in seven “high STD areas” to request up to 10 free condoms online every month, which arrive, along with educational pamphlets, at the participant’s doorstep in discreet packaging just days later.
According to Fox News, the program currently runs on a budget of $5,000 per county serviced.
San Diego County was targeted because, according to the CFHC, it has the second highest number of chlamydia cases in the state among those 15 to 19 years old and the sixth highest number of gonorrhea cases.
In all, the California Department of Public Health reports that cases of the former rose from 14,141 in 2008 to 15,399 in 2011. Incidents of gonorrhea rose similarly from 1,847 to 2,174 in the same time period.
Amy Moy is vice president of public affairs for the council and, as she told KPBS Radio News, teens face barriers such as embarrassment or issues related to confidentiality and cost when it comes to buying condoms, despite broad retailer availability.
Critics of the program, however, argue against it on the basis that it circumvents the role of parents.
“It’s one more example of the government’s intrusion on parental rights,” Chris Clark, Pastor at Clairemont Baptist Church in San Diego, told Fox. “I would ask parents the question: who should be making decisions for the welfare of your child? You or should the state?”
Moy says she agrees that parents should play an involved role in encouraging abstinence; however, to withhold condoms from those who plan on engaging in sexual activity is not the answer, she argues.
“It’s really important that we all share with youth in our lives that abstinence is the most effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infection and unintended pregnancy,” Moy said. “But we know that teens are engaging in sexual activity, and we just want to help them be as safe as possible and not keep our heads in the sand and pretend there isn’t a problem.”
In all, the CFHC mailed out 30,000 condoms last year, according to KPBS.
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