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Residents urge St. Clair County to retain Title X family planning services
Summary
At a July meeting, multiple residents and former staff told the St. Clair County Advisory Board of Health that moving or ending the county's Title X family planning services would harm underinsured clients and adolescents who rely on confidential care.
At a July meeting of the St. Clair County Advisory Board of Health, several residents and former public health employees urged the board not to scale back or close the county's Title X family planning program following proposals described in a memorandum from the department's medical director.
Why it matters: Commenters said the county's family planning clinic provides confidential care, counseling and referrals that are not easily replaced for underinsured residents and teens, and they warned that moving services to outside providers would create travel and cost burdens.
Mary Fleischer, a resident who identified herself during public comment, said three experienced nurse practitioners have left the department and questioned the medical director's proposal that contraceptive care be shifted to a McLaren residency site. She told the board, "Do not close this vital program," and cited the department's annual report showing the family planning program served 871 clients in 2025.
Sloane Johnson, a long-time Title X client, described personal benefits from counseling and services and criticized what she called a focus on 'sustainability' that lacks compassion. "Better never means better for everyone," Johnson said, urging the board to prioritize residents' welfare over administrative cost-cutting.
Kathy Balato, a retired public health nursing supervisor, told members the confidential services extend beyond Title X and include adolescent HIV services and pregnancy care for minors. She said those programs provide vital protections and that "if you think you're getting rid of family plan because you don't agree with confidential services, that's not the case."
Jennifer Michalek, a 30-year department veteran who retired in 2025, thanked staff and urged the board to press the medical director to build local relationships before making changes. She said staffing shortages for OB-GYN providers make the county's clinic especially important for residents who cannot travel to neighboring counties.
Board staff said the medical director, Dr. Nevin, was not present and that he had circulated a memorandum proposing program changes; staff also told members they had no indication from the state that local Title X funding would change in the next fiscal year. The board did not take formal action on Title X during the meeting.
What's next: The board will continue to receive input during public comment and through scheduled administrative updates; no vote on Title X services was recorded at this meeting.
