Difference between revisions of "Planned Parenthood"

Revision as of 20:50, 18 June 2011

Case Study - Planned Parenthood

In our society, it is assumed that one will prescribe to a set of values and behavior patterns that are socially acceptable. Often an individual will step outside of the bounds of said acceptability. It is then that the individual is forced to decide whether it to conform or to create their own bounds for which they are to prescribe. This is how we have come to know so many subsocieties or subcultures. The following organization is one, which exemplifies civic intelligence by not placing bias on any one person or community from which they originate. This organization works to advocate for, promote, and provide for the community as a whole and work towards empowerment of all persons.

• Orientation:

Planned Parenthood is a national organization that works to empower our community on an individual and communal level. Planned Parenthood believes in helping people “regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence.”

As stated in their mission statement, Planned Parenthood “believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility,” and also, “[Planned Parenthood believes] that respect and value for diversity in all aspects of our organization are essential to our well-being. We believe that reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and preserve the individual's right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination will contribute to an enhancement of the quality of life and strong family relationships.”

• Organization:

Unfortunately, it is common among our society to shun those whom we do not agree with and or understand. This is vastly accepted among our society. There is the norm, and anything or anyone that falls beyond those parameters are thought to be outliers, outsiders if you will. They are the misfits. What perpetuates this patterned behavior is permitting such to be acceptable. Planned Parenthood exemplifies civic intelligence by standing firm in their beliefs that "offer a robust vision and commonsense solutions designed to protect women’s health and safety and the basic human rights of us all."

Planned Parenthood has been a resource for the community for close to ninety-five years. Although budget cuts are constantly threatening the future and longevity of this organization the employees and volunteers that see it through day in and day out never waiver in their commitment to helping their community. Planned Parenthood is supported by medical professionals, human and civil rights activists, lawyers and its community.

• Engagement refers to the ways in which civic intelligence is an active force for thought, action, and social

change.

• Intelligence:

For over 90 years Planned Parenthood has been an unstoppable force among advocating for the rights of all. Intelligence is often misinterpreted as the amount of quantifiable knowledge that a single person possesses. The term civic intelligence is more user friendly, because it acknowledges that power and necessity of community. Support from our community has and always will be crucial to our survival and positive progression as a species. "Planned Parenthood has been a change agent — fighting for a world where every child is wanted, loved, and treated fairly; a world where women’s health is a paramount concern and access to health care is not only a right but a reality; a world where women are in charge of their own destinies." The aforementioned statement pulled from Planned Parenthood's annual report helps to define in what parameters civic intelligence has been a leading example in our society.

• Products and Projects refers to some of the ways, both long-term and incremental, that civic intelligence

organizations focus their efforts. This includes tangible outcomes and campaigns to help attain desired objectives.

• Resources refers to the types of support that people and institutions engaged in civic intelligence work need and

use. (The resources they provide would be discussed in Products and Projects, above.)