| | November Happenings At AccessMatters! |
| The Monthly Recap Happy November and Happy Thanksgiving As we enter this season of gratitude, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our staff, board members, and the incredible supporters who continue to support and uplift our work. This year brought unexpected challenges, including the sudden withholding of our Title X Family Planning funding, which deeply affected our team, our provider network, and the clients who depend on our services. Through it all, your commitment never wavered. Grateful is truly an understatement. Because of you, we remain strong, resilient, and focused on our mission. As we look ahead to the close of the year, we do so with confidence and hope, knowing we have you beside us. Wishing you and your family a warm and joyful Thanksgiving holiday. With gratitude, Ayana Bradshaw President and CEO We hope you enjoy reading our November updates and highlights! |
| | | | | | Program Updates, Trainings, & Events |
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| | AccessMatters Hosts Youth Mental Health First Aid Training On November 11, AccessMatters hosted "Youth Mental Health First Aid," a workshop to teach adult participants about adolescent mental health. During the training, participants learned how to identify warning signs and risk factors for adolescents, as well as received information on how depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and substance use impacts adolescents. |
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| | Issue Education: Contraceptive Access in Pennsylvania Contraceptive access is an important issue in Pennsylvania and across the country. Nine out of ten women will use contraceptives in their lifetime, but for many people, the cost can be prohibitive. In Pennsylvania, House Bill 1140: The Contraceptive Access for All Act seeks to address these barriers to care. Currently, Pennsylvania has no policies in place to ensure people have access to contraceptives. Introduced by State Representative Leanne Krueger and passed out of the PA House of Representatives in June 2025, House Bill 1140 is in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. To voice your support for this important bill and urge Senate leadership to move the bill, go to: Urge Your State Senator to Support Contraceptive Protections Today - Pass House Bill 1140 AccessMatters also launched a new campaign on social media to highlight birth control methods and demystify the myriad of types of birth control! Connect with us on And check out our “Method Monday” posts! |
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| | AccessMatters Celebrates #ThxBirthControl Day On November 12, AccessMatters joined public health organizations across the country in commemorating #ThxBirthControl Day. The day, first created by Power to Decide, is dedicated to celebrating the positive impact that contraceptives have on many people’s lives. On this day – and every day – we recognize the importance of birth control, and continue our work to ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to the birth control method of their choice. |
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| | AccessMatters Recognizes World AIDS Day December 1 is World AIDS Day. Since 1988, this day has commemorated advancements in HIV testing and care, demonstrating solidarity with those impacts by the HIV pandemic, and honoring and remembering those who have died. While great progress has been made in ending the HIV pandemic, an estimated 40 million people across the globe are living with HIV. It is vital to continue the fight for increased testing, treatment, and access to dignified care. |
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| | Support AccessMatters on Giving Tuesday As you make your Giving Tuesday gifts, consider supporting our organization! This past year has been trying and difficult as we navigated the sudden loss of our Title X Family Planning funding, but we have persevered. Help us continue making access a reality for people in our region. To support our work, please give a gift that is meaningful for you here. https://www.accessmatters.org/support-us/ |
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| AccessMatters Participates in Statewide Advocacy Day On November 18, AccessMatters’ staff joined advocates from across the state to participate in a day of education and discussion with state legislators on a variety of health-related policy issues. During the event, AccessMatters’ staff highlighted the need for policies to protect and expand access to contraceptives in Pennsylvania, as well as advocated for other bills to advance sexual and reproductive health care access in Pennsylvania. |
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| | Pennsylvania Passes CROWN Act Pennsylvania has become the 28th state to pass the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act banning discrimination based on hair types, textures, or styles. The bill, introduced by Representative LaTasha Mayes and Speaker of the House, Joanna McClinton, introduces important protections for Pennsylvanians. AccessMatters commends the efforts of all legislators, community members, and advocates in advancing this important bill. |
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| | | Pennsylvania State Legislature Passes Bill for No-Cost Diagnostic Breast Imaging On November 19, Senate Bill 88 was passed by the Pennsylvania House. The bill, which would eliminate all out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic breast imaging – including MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasounds – will reduce barriers to care for thousands of Pennsylvanians across the state. AccessMatters staff met with Senator Frank Farry, who introduced the bill, on the day of its passage and discussed the importance of affordable, accessible reproductive health care services. |
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| | Government Shutdown Ends In November, the federal government shutdown ended after a historic 43-day closure. The bill extends last year’s spending levels for most federal initiatives through January, with some key programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funded through September 2026. Affordable Care Act subsidies at the center of the budget negotiations remain unsolved, with Congress members agreeing to hold a mid-December vote. As a part of the budget deal, reductions in force that occurred during the shutdown have been reversed, including staff at the Office of Population Affairs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) office that manages the Title X Family Planning program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. |
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Guttmacher reported on the potential impact of Medicaid cuts on access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. The report highlighted the need for state policymakers to allocate funding so that access to care remains uninterrupted. Read the policy analysis here. -
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star covered the reproductive health lobby day that AccessMatters participated in, highlighting the importance of state policy to protect access to sexual and reproductive health care and maternal health care among other important issues. Read the coverage here. -
The Georgetown Center for Children and Families summarized maternal and child health programs that may be cut or severely reduced in the proposed federal budget, including the Title X Family Planning Program. Read the article here. |
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| | AccessMatters
1700 Market Street, Suite 1540 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
215-985-2600 | info@accessmatters.org |
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