Denver Health has determined it cannot provide birth control to the city’s school-based health centers — unless the school board undoes a 22-year-old ban on contraceptives.
If that happens — and the matter is scheduled to be presented to the board next week — contraceptives would have to be made available without parental consent.
“There are two major issues,” said John Kechriotis, Denver Public Schools attorney. “One is the decision on whether you distribute contraceptives in a school clinic. That is a big issue that needs to be resolved. Beyond that decision, there is the whole other issue of the parental consent.”
Making birth control available from the clinics run out of six Denver high schools emerged from a health task force as a way to battle teen pregnancy.
“The feeling was if the school community wants it and parents say yes and we have health professionals who have the expertise, then we should provide it,” said Elaine Gantz Berman, chairwoman of the panel.
A spokeswoman for Denver Health, which also runs clinics in six middle schools, said if the school board changes its mandate about contraceptives, the clinics will provide them in high schools.
Colorado Right to Life has been vocal in its opposition to offering birth control.
“This is going to encourage sex, period,” said Lolita Hanks, director with Colorado Right to Life. “The best way to get teen pregnancy rates down is to encourage kids not to have sex.”
However, Colorado Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention supports the task force recommendation.
“Research has shown that when access to contraception is paired with effective comprehensive education for youth who are sexually active, it can make a difference in reducing teen pregnancy,” said Shannon Sainer, program manager for the nonprofit group.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
