#ThxBirthControl Success; Support Contraceptive Equity

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NEWS FROM POWER TO DECIDE

‘Tis the season of joy and giving! We at Power to Decide would like to express our thanks for supporting young people’s power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. We look forward to working with all of you in 2023, and wish you, your colleagues, and family a happy and healthy holiday season.

Another Successful #ThxBirthControl Day

Thank you to everyone who participated in Thanks, Birth Control Day this year! For 10 years now, with the help of thousands nationwide, the love for birth control was spread across social media. Together we told the world why birth control matters and why we love our methods. Check out highlights from this year’s incredible celebration.

Access One Key Question Training Online NOW

Power to Decide’s One Key Question^® (OKQ) is an online, interactive training that helps providers start the conversation about if, when, and under what circumstances people want to get pregnant and have a child. The notion behind OKQ is simple—it provides a framework for health care providers, social service providers, and champions to routinely ask: “Would You Like to Become Pregnant in the Next Year?” OKQ meets people where they are, by offering four responses: Yes, No, Ok Either Way, Unsure. OKQ focuses on understanding people’s goals and providing follow-up care based on the persons response, whether that is for birth control, preconception health, prenatal care, or referral for other services. It aims to proactively address the root causes of mistimed pregnancies and poor birth outcomes. One Key Question encourages providers to have conversations with their patients about their pregnancy desires in a non-judgmental manner. Moreover, it equally supports those who want to become pregnant, those who do not, and those who are ambivalent. To access OKQ online training simply visit our online store.

Our Newest Power Player

We’re committed to uplifting the many individuals supporting young people’s reproductive well-being. This month’s Power Player is Senior Project Manager at Advocates for Youth, Angela Maske. Read her story.

POLICY UPDATES

A Congressional Update

While our attention has turned to the incoming 118^th Congress, there is still work to be done in the current Congress. In October, Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at the same level through December 16, 2022. Please contact your representatives today to urge them to increase funding for the Title X Family Planning Program. The program has been underfunded for years—and communities across the country are at risk of not having a Title X clinic for birth control access if funding is not increased.

Additionally, Power to Decide led a letter to Congressional leadership this fall requesting increased funding for the TPP Program (along with the Personal Responsibility Education Program PREP program)—we encourage organizations to join the 93 others who have signed on to the letter.

States Vote to Protect Reproductive Freedom

On November 8, five states had ballot measures about abortion; voters in all five states voted in favor of reproductive freedom. Specifically, voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont approved state constitutional amendments that protect the right to abortion, while voters in Kentucky and Montana rejected initiatives that would have further restricted access. You can learn more about these and other ballot measures, as well as the post-election state and legislative control from the National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL)’s 2022 State Elections resource.

Now is the time to start building relationships with newly elected legislators, as many states’ legislative sessions will begin in less than two months. You can check out Power to Decide’s Advancing Contraceptive Access Toolkit to see what proactive contraceptive access policies your state has and tip sheets on how to advocate for those policies your state does not have.

POWER UPDATES

Click here to see the top publications and articles on sexual health published in the last month.

GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR SPONSORS

Our Contraceptive Equity Initiative is expanding access to birth control & reducing the barriers faced by too many in their quest for reproductive well-being. The Contraceptive Equity Initiative honors three pioneers in the field of reproductive health, each with a deep commitment to the mission of Power to Decide: Belle Sawhill, Sarah Brown, and Andrea Kane. This trio had a lot in common: a rock-solid commitment to evidence-based policy solutions, a willingness to push past conventional wisdom in search of innovative solutions, and an ability to pitch a big tent and navigate both sides of the aisle for the benefit of people across the country. These attributes are foundational for the Initiative. And right now, all gifts to the CEI are being matched, consider making a gift today.

Giving Tuesday might be over, but it’s not too late to support the power to decide. Now more than ever, we’re relying on the generosity of donors like you to help us ensure that all young people have what they need to plan their futures. If you’re doing your holiday shopping on Amazon consider making Power to Decide your AmazonSmile charity, which will give 0.5% of proceeds from your eligible purchases to us to continue our important work.

Copyright © 2022, Power to Decide, the campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancy
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