Challenges in Planned Parenthood: New Jersey and the Nation

Speaker: Triste Brooks, CEO/President of Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey

Triste will talk about the local affiliate and its recent merger (15 health centers in 10 counties), including numbers of patients served, overview of services, education, advocacy, and the impact of two years of state budget cuts.  Even with all this, PPNJ continues to roll out new initiatives: Teen Success/Latino Outreach; PREP grant work; NJCEED grant and free cancer screenings.  Also covered will be proposed federal budget cuts, recent issues with the Komen Foundation and issues on national insurance coverage of birth control.  How does all of this affect services in Bergen County?

 Triste A. Brooks is the CEO/President of Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey.  Prior to joining PPCGNNJ, she worked at Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast as the Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for the entire medical and educational operations of the affiliate. Triste, and her work, have been widely recognized and honored with special awards, such as the Soroptimist Women of Distinction Award, Top Individual Award for Educator Leader of the Year from PPFA, a National Award from the American Public Health Foundation for a Community Outreach Program and The New Life Youth Center Board of Trustees Award for Personal and Professional Achievement, bestowed only every five years.

Ethics-based Sunday school for children is offered simultaneously.