Insider News January 2022
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- PPHP Staff Member Received Award
- January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- Completing a Robust Year of Education and Training
- Join Us for Roe on the Rocks
- How You Can Help
- In Case You Missed It
Dear Friends,
I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday season.
This month marks the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and we are at a crisis point. The Supreme Court has already allowed access to abortion in Texas to be decimated and green-lit the unravelling of abortion protections around the nation. By this summer, the court could officially erase nearly 50 years of precedent and the constitutional right to abortion. Abortion is a health care issue and shouldn’t be politicized. This is each person’s decision based on what is best for them. Politicians—some of whom don’t even understand how pregnancy works—should not be involved in someone’s personal medical decisions about a pregnancy. At Planned Parenthood, we know that every pregnancy is unique and every person’s circumstances are different. Today and every day, we do everything we can to ensure that every patient who seeks an abortion can get one.
Thank you for your past support and I look forward to what we will accomplish together this year. Thank you for helping us empower individuals to determine their own sexual health and reproductive futures. I encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to stay up-to-date on what is happening at PPHP and issues related to sexual and reproductive health care.
In this together,
Vincent Russell
President & CEO
PPHP Staff Member Received Award
Kari Kohl, Certified Nurse Midwife in our New Rochelle health center, was named Preceptor of the Year by students in Pace University’s Physician’s Assistant program. Kari has been a preceptor with this program, training students in sexual and reproductive health care, for nearly three years.
During the program, students learn from Kari while shadowing her during patient visits. Kari has one student per four-week session. They are with Kari for all appointment types, with the patient’s permission, so they learn what they need to know to conduct the different types of visits involved in sexual and reproductive health care. Kari said the students are wonderful, intelligent, interesting, and highly motivated.
We are proud of Kari and her work with this program, training future providers of health care. She is truly deserving of this award. Congratulations!
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
As you may know, cervical cancer is caused by certain types of HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection. However, with regular screenings and vaccinations, it is actually one of the most preventable cancers. We also know that cervical cancer disproportionately affects members of the Latino/Latina/Latinx community due to structural inequities in health care.
Last year, the American Cancer Society issued new guidelines for cervical cancer detection. The American Cancer Society recommends that individuals with a cervix follow these guidelines to help find cervical cancer early:
- Cervical cancer testing (screening) should begin at age 25.
- Those aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test* every 5 years. If primary HPV testing is not available, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Pap test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.
(*A primary HPV test is an HPV test that is done by itself for screening. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved certain tests to be primary HPV tests.)
All of our health centers offer Pap tests and the HPV vaccine. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/patient-resources/cervical-cancer.
Completing a Robust Year of Education and Training
Our Education and Training team completed a successful year of programming, reaching over 4,000 participants through education programs in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Suffolk counties. Many of our education programs were offered in Spanish as well as to youth with intellectual and developmental delays.
On December 15, our Rockland Teen Information and Peer Services (TIPS) participants graduated from their program, after received over 20 hours of sexual and reproductive health training. TIPSters, as we call them, are now able to co-facilitate education programs as well as participate in bi-weekly meetings covering adult preparation topics throughout the school year. During the ceremony, 13 TIPSters received recognition awards from New York State Senators Skoufis and Reichlin-Melnick of Rockland County.
In December we hosted a Food and Game Night in collaboration with Central Islip High School. Seven young people attended the event where they enjoyed food and beverages as well as games related to sexual and reproductive health. These Food and Game Nights are a great way for young people to learn more about their bodies and the services available to them at PPHP.
If you would like more information on our Education & Training programs, please visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/local-education-training.
You are invited to our annual Roe on the Rocks event, celebrating the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Our virtual event will be held on Thursday, January 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It will be evening you don’t want to miss as we will discuss the current state of abortion access across the country and what we can do to protect it.
Individual tickets to the event are available at no cost but you must preregister to be given the event link. You can register at www.pphp.org/Roe2022.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
We have exciting events planned for 2022! Be sure to mark your calendars and check your email for more details and ticket and sponsorship opportunities.
Day of Action
Tuesday, March 8
More information coming soon
The Spring Benefit
Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
The Founder’s Room at the Paramount Theater, Huntington
Honoring Evelyn Gay
The East End Benefit
Saturday, June 4, 2022, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
The Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club, Bridgehampton
Honoring Sandy Perlbinder
The Summer Benefit
Honoring Ida and Robert Gordon and Roberta Gordon
More information to come.
The Empower Gala
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
The Sleepy Hollow Hotel and Conference Center, Tarrytown
For more information, visit our Calendar of Events. We look forward to seeing you in 2022!
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.
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