In response to a request from the DHHS Office of Family Planning, the Institute of Medicine conducted a study to review the Title X Family Planning Program.  It was conducted within the IOM Board on Health Sciences Policy in consultation with the Board on Children, Youth, and Families.  The review assessed the administration and management of the program including whether the program is serving its intended target populations.  The committee also considered the extent to which the Title X program needs to reexamine the scope of its services, objectives and operational requirements of the program. 

Specifically, the committee reviewed and addressed the following questions:

• Has OFP used the PART (Program Assessment Rating Tool) process (including identified goals, objectives and justification) to reflect relevant goals, outcomes, and processes needed to successfully implement and manage the Title X Program?
• Does the overall Title X Program meet relevant past, existing, and foreseeable future needs of the targeted population, using accepted medical, family planning, recognized and professional standards and reproductive health practices (based on the existing legislation, regulations, and guidance)?
• How do Title X Program goals and objectives contribute to those of DHHS?
• To what extent is the Title X Program complementary versus duplicative of other public or private funding sources (e.g. Medicaid, community health centers)?

As part of this review and assessment, the committee considered Title X documentation including legislation, regulations, previous program evaluations (such as those conducted by the Government Accountability Office, Office of the Inspector General, and Research Triangle Institute), guidance documents (Program review tool, Title X guidelines, Program Instructions), data management (Family Planning Annual Report guidance), Service Delivery Improvement RFAs (past and present final reports), and the PART Evaluation (level of contribution to improving service delivery).