The specific goals of the Family Planning Association in Trinidad and Tobago include the following:

• To respond to the need for improved sexual and reproductive health among the underserved population with particular emphasis on young people.

• To further develop the financial and human resources of the Association to boost its sustainability efforts.

• Advocacy of family planning as an element of social change.

Based on these goals, the Association has decided to place increased emphasis on:

• 10-14 year age group.
• Destitute people living in disadvantaged and underserved areas.
• Sexual and reproductive health of males.
• Expansion of reproductive health to include colposcopy and a mini gynae clinic, chlamydia testing, sexual health clinic and programs for men and post menopausal women, greater focus on voluntary sterilization and pap smear services for women over 35 years of age.
• Expanded advocacy role.
• Evaluation of programs and systems.
• Review of teaching methodologies and messages promoted.
• Increased revenue generation.
• Serving as a center for 'training of trainers.'
• Intensifying education programs on HIV/AIDS/STD prevention, particularly in Tobago.

The Association is staffed by well qualified medical, nursing and non-medical personnel whose objective is the provision of high quality service to the public. The organization employs sixty full-time, four part-time and nineteen seasonal members of staff. Temporary and relief staff are recruited as required for specific projects.

The Board of Directors determines the overall philiosophy and policies of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago. The Board includes the following members:

A reproductive health care service to eleven disadvantaged/underserved communities is provided through the "FPA Express." This community outreach program is conducted by the Association in collaboration with the government and non-governmental organizations and includes health and family life education and skills training. This strategy serves to empower women to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and their livelihood. The Association strongly feels that this program will assist with the overall poverty eradication drive of the government. The following services are offered through the FPA Express:

• The Association provides a holistic health and family life education program for youth and adults throughout the country. Issues addressed include values clarification, growth and development, human sexuality, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS/STDs, malignant neoplasms (cerival, breast, prostate), parenting and ferility regualtion.

• Through its National Youth project, the Association works with parents, trains teachers and peer helpers and provides health and family life education to in-school and out-of-school youth.

• The Association provides education/services to two speacial youth groups: Youth Trianing Enterprise and Partnership Program (YTEPP) and the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC) program.

• The Association provides counselling to presons in communities, at the clinics, at its Head Office and via the telephone in the areas of HIV/AIDS/STDs, sexuality and interpersonal relationships. In addition, an increasig number of clients have sought counselling on domestic violence, incest and rape.

Training to Government Presonnel

Over the last sixteen years the Association has provided training in family planning methods and sexual and reproductive health care to six hundred and thirty eight government medical personnel.

Services at the Workplace

The needs of employees in the corporate sector who cannot take time off from their jobs have not been forgotten. "Healthlink," which was launched in May 1995, is the mechanism through which services are taken tot he owrkplace. This service includes:

In the past and at present, expatriates and Trinidad and Tobago residents (including companies) have made contributions to the Association as follows: