Insider News April 2024
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- Health Care: STI Awareness Month
- Education: Spring Semester with PPHP’s Education Team
- Advocacy & Government Relations: Get Involved to Pass the NY Equal Rights Amendment
- You can continue to make Care. No Matter What. possible!
- In Case You Missed It
Dear Friends,
With their decision to overturn Roe nearly two years ago, the Supreme Court unleased a national reproductive health crisis. The next frontier of the battle to control people’s lives, bodies, and futures is here.
The federal law that ensures emergency room medical care for all people (EMTALA) remains in place despite the Dobbs ruling and supersedes state law, including abortion bans. Next week, the Supreme Court is hearing a consolidated case (Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States) that challenges access to abortion in emergency situations.
Everyone must be able to get the emergency care they need — including pregnant people who need an abortion. Anti-abortion rights lawmakers and their allies are willing to endanger the lives of pregnant people, even in dangerous medical emergencies.
The consequences will be catastrophic, even deadly, if the Supreme Court allows states to ignore EMTALA. Unless the Supreme Court is willing to let pregnant people die or suffer serious complications, they must ensure the right to emergency medical care remains in place.
There has never been a more critical time to get involved in the fight for reproductive rights. While we are grateful for legal protections in New York, we are still facing threats to our ability to provide the high-quality care that our patients deserve. Read on for ways to get involved in our activist efforts, join us for an event, or make a donation to support our work.
Thank you for your continued support of PPHP. Our movement is stronger with you in it.
In this together,
Vincent Russell
President & CEO
Health Care: STI Awareness Month
Every April, we recognize Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month as an opportunity to educate and fight stigma around STI prevention and treatment. Stigma often causes people to avoid talking about STIs with their partners, and shame can keep people from getting STI testing or treatment.
It’s common to have an STI with no symptoms, so getting tested and talking to your partner about STIs is important. Here are some helpful conversation starters to bring up STI testing. It may feel awkward at first, but with practice it gets easier and can even bring you closer together.
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STIs can feel hard to talk about, but I care about us and want to chat about getting tested.
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Let’s look out for each other and go get tested before we have sex.
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How do you feel about getting tested for STIs?
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I’ve learned how common STIs are, and I want to talk about getting tested to cut our risk of getting one.
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Have you ever been tested?
When you’re ready to get tested, we’re here for you. Learn more about STI services at PPHP here. For questions or to make an appointment, visit pphp.org or call 800-230-PLAN.
Education: Spring Semester with PPHP’s Education Team
The Education and Training team has sprung onto college campuses. Our Suffolk County Community Health Educator provided a video lesson for an asynchronous health class at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC), as well as attending SCCC’s Health & Wellness Fair to provide pregnancy tests for students. Our team also provided contraception and abortion care lessons for an Enrichment Seminar at Stony Brook University. Joelle Schantz, an Education and Training Manager, spoke at Pace University’s Wellness Panel. Lastly, our Community Health Educator presented at PrideWorks’ annual conference at SUNY Westchester for the second year in a row!
In addition to our campus visits, our team provided professional development training to PPHP health center staff last month. It’s an essential function of our team to be a resource for our entire affiliate and educate staff on the ever-evolving topic of reproductive health. The trainings on informed consent and microlearning were aimed at equipping our health center staff with more tools to improve the communication and understanding between providers and patients.
To learn more about our education and training programs visit Education & Training | Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc.
Advocacy & Government Relations: Get Involved to Pass the NY Equal Rights Amendment
Abortion bans have eliminated all or some abortions in 21 states. Most recently, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a ruling that will allow a near-total ban on abortion across the state. Arizona state politicians have threatened doctors with years of imprisonment for providing critical reproductive care to patients.
We can’t allow New York State to ever enact an abortion ban like Arizona’s. On Thursday, April 18, from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., we’re holding a virtual New York Equal Rights Amendment Teach-In to explain how we can collectively enshrine abortion rights into our state constitution.
Looking to get more involved? Join us on Wednesday, April 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for our phone bank to recruit volunteers to join our movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. We can’t wait to see you then!
If you can’t make it to either of these events but want to participate in future NY Equal Rights Amendment events and actions, be sure to sign up on our volunteer form.
Come Join Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic!
PPHP has employment opportunities in our health centers and administrative offices.
If you’re interested in working for a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care and a trusted source for education and advocacy, apply to work at PPHP today. You can learn more about open positions and working at PPHP here.
Be sure to mark your calendars and share these events with your friends and family.
NY Equal Rights Amendment Teach-In
Thursday, April 18
Virtual
More information here
NY Equal Rights Amendment Phone Bank
Wednesday, April 24
Virtual
More information here
Gender-Affirming Care Info Session
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Virtual
More information here
A Night for Our Rights
Thursday, May 9
Oheka Castle, Huntington
More information here
Making Waves: PPHP’s Hamptons Benefit
Saturday, June 1
The Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club
More information here
PPHP's Wine Tasting
Sunday, September 8
The Old Field Club, East Setauket
More information to come
For more information, visit our Calendar of Events. We look forward to seeing you!
You can continue to make Care. No Matter What. possible!
A monthly gift to PPHP ensures security for patients in your local communities. Consider joining our Monthly Giving Program today at www.pphp.org/donatetoday.
Double your impact! Does your employer have a matching gift program? Check with your Human Resources Department to find out. For questions, contact the Development Department at [email protected].
Committed to safeguarding the future of reproductive health care? Consider leaving a legacy gift to PPHP in your will. Please contact the Development Department at [email protected].
Do you have a little bit of time to get more involved? Visit www.pphp.org for ways you can help.
PPHP in the News:
Letter to the Editor: Make Prenatal Care a Priority - Mid Hudson News
Make Prenatal Care a Top Priority to Prevent Maternal Mortality | The Examiner News
Additional News:
Video Planned Parenthood official reacts to 160-year-old Arizona abortion ban - ABC News (go.com)
3 Major Abortion Pill Myths to Be Aware of Right Now | SELF
We can make birth safer for Black mothers. Here’s how. - Vox