Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region and Planned Parenthood of Western New York are merging, and the outgoing CEO of the local agency says it will be a stronger organization as a result.
Jim Stewart says this puts together the strengths of two very effective organizations in a single entity that is strengthened for the future.
He says between the two organizations, they serve about 36-thousand patients, 50 thousand education clients, and locally about 14-hundred survivors of sexual assault.
He says this will only position Planned Parenthood for growth in the future.
Stewart says all the local health centers will be maintained, and they're looking at establishing a new facility in the Rochester area.
Stewart says job cuts will be minimal, but he will be stepping down in January to focus on a capital campaign.
Karen Nelson will take over as CEO of the new Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York next January.
The effective date of the merger is January 1st, 2014.
Planned Parenthood Organizations Merging
plannedparenthood.org/rochester-syracuse