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$4 million ounce of prevention

In a time of economic hardship for many Washingtonians, now is not the time to cut vital, money-saving programs, but that’s exactly what’s happening. The Department of Social and Health Services has announced it will end Take Charge, which provides family-planning services to low-income people in Washington.

Ending the Take Charge program will mean 50,000 low-income people will lose those services, which include annual exams, cancer screenings and birth control.

Family planning saves money. For every $1 Washington invests in Take Charge, it receives $9 from the federal government. Why walk away from that considerable source of revenue now? If Washington can’t afford the $4 million to fund Take Charge, how are we possibly going to afford the $45 million per year in new pregnancy care costs?

Alayna Becker

Spokane

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