| | July Happenings At AccessMatters! |
| The Monthly Recap Happy July! This summer, AccessMatters continues the fight to protect, expand, and enhance access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in Pennsylvania. |
| | | | | | | | Title X Family Planning Funding Title X grant funding was withheld from AccessMatters beginning April 1, jeopardizing access to high-quality, affordable healthcare in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The withholding of Title X funds has severely disrupted access to essential health services, including contraception, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and prenatal care, putting countless people at risk of preventable harm. Visit accessmatters.org/donate to help support our work to ensure everyone has access to the care they need and deserve. |
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| | Program Updates, Trainings, & Events |
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| AccessMatters to Host Adolescent Health Training Workshop: On July 30, AccessMatters will host another opportunity to become an Askable Adult! Askable Adults are youth-serving professionals and community members who are willing and equipped to support adolescent health by answering common health-related questions, providing evidence-based and medically accurate information, and connecting them to resources. Anyone can become an Askable Adult! During AccessMatters’ virtual Askable Adults Matter workshop community members and youth-serving professionals and volunteers will learn best practices for promoting sexual and reproductive health to adolescents in their lives. Register for this event here. Use the code AMNetwork25 for 25% off. |
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| | Program Spotlight: Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership The Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership (PPP) has been a program of AccessMatters for decades. The PPP brings together experts from across the state to collaborate on education and advocacy initiatives to improve perinatal, postpartum, and infant health and wellbeing. Any professional, organization, or government agency that works to protect and support the health and wellbeing of people in Pennsylvania throughout the perinatal and postpartum periods, whose mission and values align with the mission and guiding principles of the PPP and AccessMatters is eligible for membership. You can learn more about the PPP here. |
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| | AccessMatters’ Adolescent Health Initiative Recruiting Members for Youth Advisory Board The Adolescent Health Initiative is looking for new members ages 13-16 to join the Youth Advisory Board! Youth Advisory Board members learn to advocate for youth-related health issues and education while representing youth perspectives in the Adolescent Health Initiative’s programming. If you know youth in Philadelphia who may be interested in joining, they can call or text 215-985-2657, or email adolescenthealth@accessmatters.org. |
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| | RePROS Fight Back Podcast Highlights Need for Title X Funding in Conversation with Ayana Bradshaw AccessMatters’ President & CEO Ayana Bradshaw sat down with RePROS Fight Back podcast to discuss how the withholding of Title X funding has affected AccessMatters and other public health organizations. Ayana spoke about how critical Title X funding is for the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare, the need for awareness and attention to the program, and the important role of Title X for communities that face barriers to care. Ayana’s remarks begin at the 19:50 mark - You can listen to the conversation here. |
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| | Alliance of Pennsylvania Councils Submits Comments on State Title V Action Plan: The Alliance of Pennsylvania Councils – made up of AccessMatters serving Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Family Health Council of Central PA (FHCCP) serving Central Pennsylvania, and Maternal Family Health Services (MFHS) serving Northeastern Pennsylvania – submitted recommendations for the first year of the 2026-2030 project cycle of the Title V Maternal and Child Health grant. Title V, which supports AccessMatters’ Health Resource Center program, is one of the oldest public health grants in the country. Throughout the nation, Title V funds programs to improve perinatal and postpartum health outcomes, as well as the health and wellness of children and adolescents. |
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| | Share Your Title X Story As we continue to advocate for essential Title X Family Planning funding, we are looking to demonstrate the impact of the Title X program on communities in Pennsylvania. If you or your community have benefitted from low or no-cost sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and you have a story you would like to share, you can submit it here. Title X Family Planning services include birth control, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Pap tests, and more. Not sure if your services were provided through Title X? Submit your story anyway and we can help you figure it out! |
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| | HHS Issues New Ruling on Access to Federal Programs, including Title X The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a new policy restricting access to public benefits, including the Title X Family Planning program. Under the new ruling, which went into effect on July 14, only individuals with “qualified” immigration status are permitted to receive public services. Read more about the policy here. |
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| | | AccessMatters’ Community Outreach and Information Services team is staying busy by participating in numerous community events to provide information about AccessMatters’ programs and general sexual and reproductive health-related topics. Events include: Upcoming Events -
Women’s Wellness Refresher hosted by the Bucks County YWCA -
CityLife Health Community Fair -
Community Council Health Systems Annual Community Day |
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| | In the News -
CBS Philadelphia covered the Community Baby Shower that AccessMatters attended. Read more about the event here. -
NBC Philadelphia wrote about the upcoming Back-to-School Celebration and Bus Tour, which AccessMatters will participate in. Read about it here. -
RePROS Fight Back spoke with Ayana Bradshaw about the importance of the Title X Family Planning program. Listen to the episode here. |
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| | AccessMatters
1700 Market Street, Suite 1540 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
215-985-2600 | info@accessmatters.org |
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