| | June Happenings At AccessMatters! |
| The Monthly Recap Happy summer! As the weather heats up, AccessMatters is still working hard to protect, expand, and enhance access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in Pennsylvania. |
| | | | Take Action: Push to Reinstate or Find Funding For Title X As we approach three months since Title X Family Planning Funding was withheld from AccessMatters and other public health organizations across the country by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is in danger. Since funding was withheld on April 1, people have lost access to critical care, providers are forced to make difficult decisions on what services they can provide, and essential workers have been laid off. Because Title X funding remains withheld, we urgently need the state to step in and provide support. We encourage you to contact your state representative and senator to advocate for the inclusion of additional funding for sexual and reproductive healthcare in the FY26 state budget. |
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| | Six Members of Congress from Pennsylvania Sign Letter of Support Urging Release of Title X Funds: On June 6, over 90 Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, urging HHS to release withheld Title X Family Planning Program funds. The letter was sent on the 60th anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded access to contraceptives, and evoked the case in highlighting the current threats to sexual and reproductive healthcare caused by the withholding of essential Title X funds. U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Dwight Evans, Madeleine Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Summer Lee from the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation all signed the letter, urging the swift restoration of Title X funding to all impacted grantees. You can read the letter here. |
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| | Impacted Title X Grantees Send Letter to HHS Advocating for Return of Funds: In June, several public health organizations impacted by Title X withholdings sent a joint letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services, requesting an update on the status of withheld grants. Read the letter here. |
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| Program Updates, Trainings, & Events |
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| Adolescent Health Initiative Hosts Clinic Confidence Workshop: Today, June 25, AccessMatters’ Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) will host an in-person Clinic Confidence workshops, bringing together teenagers ages 16-19 from across Philadelphia with sexual health experts to learn what to expect from family planning healthcare visits. During the workshop, attendees will learn how to make appointments and advocate for their health needs, including STI testing, contraceptives, and more. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) providers will be on-hand to answer any questions about navigating youth healthcare. It’s not too late to register! |
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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 Supporter25 for 25% off. |
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| | AccessMatters Collaborates on Campaign to Promote PA-BCCEDP Services: AccessMatters is working to promote the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP), which provides no-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings throughout the state. Informational materials promoting PA-BCCEDP services, including how to contact AccessMatters’ Information Hotline for referrals, are being distributed to providers who participate in the program, as well as community locations nearby. Learn more about AccessMatters' work with PA-BCCEDP here. |
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| | “Did You Know?” Campaign Promotes Sexual and Reproductive Health Resources in Southeastern Pennsylvania AccessMatters’ Information Hotline is being promoted through a series of videos on TikTok and other social media platforms as a part of the “Did You Know?” campaign. The campaign aims to educate people about the importance of sexual and reproductive healthcare and encourage reaching out to the Hotline. You can view the videos on the AccessMatters YouTube channel here. |
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| | House Bill 1140 – Contraceptive Access for All Act Passes PA House, Moves to State Senate On June 3, AccessMatters’ team was on-hand as the PA House voted to pass HB1140: the Contraceptive Access for All Act. The bill, which would require insurance companies in Pennsylvania to provide comprehensive coverage for contraceptives and contraceptive-related care, is now in the State Senate for consideration. Take action to urge your PA State Senator to support this important bill, visit https://accessmatters.salsalabs.org/pahousebill1140 |
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| | PA Black Maternal Health Caucus Holds PA MOMNIBUS Day On June 16, the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus held an advocacy day for the PA MOMNIBUS 2.0, a package of bills designed to address Black maternal mortality rates in Pennsylvania. AccessMatters’ CEO Ayana Bradshaw and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Shannon Criniti were in attendance for the official launch of the legislative package. The bills would increase access to maternal health resources, expand services for pregnant and postpartum people, and eliminate maternal care deserts across the state. During the evening event, AccessMatters’ CEO Ayana Bradshaw was invited to speak about the connections between family planning and perinatal and postpartum health outcomes, highlighting how vital contraceptive access, pre-conception health, and STI prevention are to positive perinatal and postpartum health outcomes You can learn more about the bills here. |
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| | AccessMatters Joins Nonprofit Organizations in Sign on Letter Urging Congress to Protect Nonprofit Sector On June 1, AccessMatters signed a letter of support delivered to Congress to underscore the need to protect nonprofit funding in the upcoming federal budget. The letter urged Congress to remove provisions from the tax reconciliation bill that would harm nonprofit organizations and result in less available resources for the essential work that nonprofits do. Read the letter here. |
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| | AccessMatters Joins Community-Based Organizations Across the Country in Letter to Support of Healthy Start Program AccessMatters joined organizations and community partners in a nationwide sign- on letter urging Congress to continue funding the Healthy Start program. Healthy Start, the only federal program entirely dedicated to reducing infant mortality, has operated for over 30 years. In the upcoming U.S Department of Health and Human Services budget proposal, the program stands to be eliminated. As a staunch supporter of Healthy Start, AccessMatters is proud to sign on with organizations across the country to urge Congress to continue funding this vital program. To sign on as a participant, organization, or individual, click here. |
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| | AccessMatters’ Community Outreach and Information Services team has stayed busy participating in numerous community events to provide information about AccessMatters’ programs and general sexual and reproductive health-related topics. Events include: - LGBTQIA+ Youth Pride Celebration with the Philadelphia School District (6/4)
- Condom and material drop offs made to the Abortion Liberation Fund of PA, and Temple University Health & Wellness Center
- Community Networking, Mental Health and Wellness, and Trauma-Informed Block Party in North Philadelphia (6/21)
- Diversity Day at Academy at Palumbo High School (6/10)
- MCC Community Baby Showers in Bucks and Chester County (6/5, 6/14)
Upcoming Events: |
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| | AccessMatters’ Partner Organizations in the News Title X in the News |
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| | AccessMatters
1700 Market Street, Suite 1540 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
215-985-2600 | info@accessmatters.org |
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