Planned Parenthood of South Central New York to Become Independent, Change Name

Planned Parenthood of South Central New York has announced that in early 2013, it will become "Family Planning of South Central New York."

The board of directors unanimously voted to change the agency’s name and create an independent not-for-profit agency, maintaining its focus on the health centers in Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, and Broome Counties.

Chief Executive Officer of Planned Parenthood of South Central New York is Debra Marcus. She said the move was unanimously approved to break away from Planned Parenthood because the agency has mandated all affiliates provide abortion services by 2013.

However, Marcus said the name change will not affect daily services currently provided nor will any staff be cut.

"Our name change reflects that we are no longer affiliated with Planned Parenthood Federation of America," she said. "However, we will remain the same agency with the same mission and the same contact information. We will have the same staff, the same leadership, the same medical and educational services at our health centers in Binghamton, Norwich, Oneonta, Sidney and Walton."