| | May Happenings At AccessMatters! |
| The Monthly Recap Happy May! As we close out spring and get ready for summer, we continue to fight to protect, expand, and enhance access to sexual and reproductive health. |
| | | Support AccessMatters’ Spring Campaign This month, AccessMatters launched our spring campaign. In the spirit of the season, which brings hope, growth, and renewal, we are continuing to reach out to our community of supporters and asking them to come together to support access to care. We are excited to extend this campaign through June 30th and you can still be a part of it! Make a $25 gift today or give $5 for the next 5 days! Encourage your friends and family to do the same, and support access to essential health care and information. $5 may seem small, but showing up in small ways for each other is how we build something great. Donate here |
|  | | | | | Program Updates, Trainings, & Events |
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| May is Sex Ed for All Month! This month is dedicated to raising awareness to the importance of comprehensive sex education. Comprehensive sex education provides adolescents with health information that is age-appropriate, evidence based, and medically accurate. Comprehensive sex education gives youth the tools and information they need to make the best decisions for themselves, by teaching youth about consent, healthy relationships, STI prevention, and more. In Pennsylvania, there are currently no requirements for schools to provide comprehensive sex education. The PA Coalition for Sex Education (PACSE) brings together advocates, sex educators, and health professionals to advocate for policies to advance comprehensive sex education statewide. If you are interested in having your organization participate in PACSE, email [email protected]. |
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| | AccessMatters Hosting Clinic Confidence Workshops AccessMatters’ Adolescent Health Initiative continues to host monthly Clinic Confidence workshops. During the workshop, attendees learn how to make appointments and advocate for their health needs, including STI testing, contraceptives, and more. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) providers are on-hand to answer any questions about navigating youth healthcare. The next workshop will be held on Thursday, June 11. Register or learn more about this event here. |
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| | AccessMatters Hosted Linking Families and Teens Workshop In May, AccessMatters’ Adolescent Health Initiative hosted a “Linking Families and Teens Workshop” with Know Your Worth Girls, Inc. This workshop is a powerful, interactive experience designed to strengthen family bonds and build essential skills, together. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or sibling, LiFT provides a welcoming space where families grow closer through learning, laughter, and shared goals. To host this free program at your organization, or for more information about similar programs, please contact [email protected] |
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| | AccessMatters Hosted Talking with Your Teens About Sexual Health In May, AccessMatters hosted “Talking with Your Teens About Sexual Health.” In this training, parents and caregivers were engaged to build skills and confidence to have open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations about sex and relationships with their youth. Participants discussed common barriers, benefits, and strategies for judgment-free dialogue, and explored tactics for answering tough questions and useful resources to find accurate information. For more information about upcoming trainings, please email [email protected]. |
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| | Program Spotlight: Information Hotline’s Menstrual Health Resources May is Menstrual Health Awareness Month! Did you know that AccessMatters’ Information Hotline can help connect you to menstrual products and menstrual health-related services in Pennsylvania? AccessMatters’ Information Hotline is a free and confidential information, referral, and counseling hotline that connects people to information and care. The hotline, staffed by AccessMatters’ Community Outreach and Information Services team, is available to answer questions related to menstrual health, and other topics related to sexual and reproductive health. AccessMatters’ Information Hotline can be reached at 215-985-3300, or via text at 833-667-3377. |
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| | AccessMatters Participates in Mother’s Day of Advocacy In May, AccessMatters partnered with Maternity Care Coalition, Moms Rising, Planned Parenthood, The National Council of Jewish Women- Pittsburgh, and New Voices for Reproductive Justice to host a Mother’s Day of Advocacy in Harrisburg. Community members and advocates from across the state joined together to uplift policies to promote maternal and health, reproductive freedom, and gender justice. |
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| | AccessMatters Provides Public Comment Supporting Menstrual Health Awareness Resolution in Philadelphia In early May, Philadelphia City Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad introduced a resolution recognizing May 2026 as Menstrual Health Awareness Month. AccessMatters provided public comment during City Council session in support of this resolution, speaking to the importance of recognizing and supporting menstrual health, including supporting programs like AccessMatters’ Health Resource Center Program. |
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| | | | AccessMatters In The Community |
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| This month, the Community Outreach and Information Services team stayed busy by attending community events! -
Mental Health Resource Fair at Academy at Palumbo -
3rd Annual Community Baby Shower in Coatesville hosted by State Senator Carolyn Comitta and the Maternal and Child Health Consortium -
Perinatal HIV Support Group presentation at Action Wellness -
The Big Resources Fair -
ConsentFest hosted by YES! -
ChesPenn's Women's Health Fair -
Save Your Vision Health Fair hosted through Speaker Joanna McClinton's office Upcoming Events -
Teen Girl Resource Fair at the Lucien E. Blackwell Library hosted by The Enterprise Center CDC -
Community Resource Block Party hosted by Growing Leading Optimistic Women -
HIV Perinatal Support Group at Action Wellness |
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Pennsylvania’s new Maternal Health Strategic Plan was covered in WVIA. Read their coverage here. -
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania filed an appeal to last month’s Commonwealth Court decision that overturned the ban on Medicaid coverage for abortion. Read the Philadelphia Inquirer’s coverage here. |
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| | AccessMatters
100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
215-985-2600 | [email protected] |
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