On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services released the FY 2018 funding announcement for Title X, the only federal program providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) is alarmed by the removal of mention of the national clinical standards, known as the “Quality Family Planning” standards issued by the CEC, that clearly defines high-quality family planning and sexual health care. There is also concern that by removing reference to the QFP, the door is open for organizations to provide sub-optimal sexual and reproductive health care.

With STDs at the highest levels ever and congenital syphilis rates soaring, our nation needs to promote sexual and reproductive health services that are of the highest quality and grounded in science. NCSD is concerned that this announcement could weaken the national network that provides high quality STD care.

NCSD stands with our partners who promote high quality sexual and reproductive health care, especially for young people and low-income women, two groups that bear an inordinate burden of the STD epidemics in this country.