Insider News March 2021
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- National Endometriosis Awareness Month
- Educating Youth and Adults
- Town Hall Series for LGBTQ+ Community
- Day of Action, From Home
- In Case You Missed This
- How You Can Help
Dear Friends,
There are many occasions to celebrate this month. First, March is Women’s History Month, a great time to reflect on the many contributions made by women. It began as Women’s History Week in 1981 and since 1987 has been celebrated the month of March. For more information and events, please visit National Women’s History Museum and Women’s History Month.
Earlier this month we celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 and National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers on March 10. We are collecting letters from our supporters for our staff and I hope you will submit one, expressing your appreciation for the work our abortion providers do every day for the people in our communities.
At the end of the month, on March 31, we will celbrate Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender and nonbinary people are our patients, supporters, and staff. We are proud to stand with them and to ensure they have access to high-quality and compassionate health care. They deserve to live full, healthy, and authentic lives, free from discrimination or judgment.
Thank you for continuing to support PPHP and our health care services, education programs, and advocacy efforts. Your commitment to our work is greatly appreciated by our patients, program participants, and staff.
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 solidarity,
Vince Russell
President & CEO
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, an opportunity to educate and inform the public about endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common health condition that can be very painful and affects an estimated 1-in-10 women of reproductive age, yet often goes undiagnosed. As a leading reproductive health care provider, advocate, and educator, we can help you get evaluated for endometriosis and manage your symptoms.
Endometriosis can cause chronic pain and, in some cases, infertility. It occurs when tissue from the lining inside the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. The lining may grow on the bowel, ovaries, lining of the pelvic area, or other places within the body. It is most often diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s, although it can occur in anyone who has a uterus, including transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people.
The most common symptom is chronic pain, usually in the pelvic region, right before and during menstrual periods. Pain from endometriosis can range from barely noticeable to severe enough to prevent you from getting out of bed in the morning. Other symptoms can include intestinal pain, spotting or bleeding between periods, pain during sex, and, in some cases, infertility. For many people who have endometriosis, birth control or other medicines can help manage chronic pain.
If you think you might have endometriosis, you should talk with our health care providers. As a leading reproductive health care provider, advocate, and educator, we can help you get evaluated for endometriosis and manage your symptoms. Be honest and as specific as possible about your symptoms so our medical staff can provide the best care possible. The more your health care provider knows about you, the better they are able to help you stay healthy.
To schedule an appointment, or learn more about our services, visit www.pphp.org or call (800) 230-PLAN (7526).
Our Education and Training team has continued to work hard securing and facilitating education programming to youth, parents, and professionals across the four counties we serve. Our team has programming in Spanish and English scheduled for the spring semester with Ramapo High School, Spring Valley High School, Mount Vernon High School, Lincoln High School, West Islip High School, several community-based organizations, and dozens of schools throughout this school year! Our PREP team also hosted our monthly Virtual Game Night over Zoom to young people in Suffolk County, providing a safe space for discussion and help accessing services via Telehealth. We are excited to continue providing sex education, even in a virtual space.
Our team has also been getting more in-depth training opportunities to work with communities with Intellectual Disabilities and Delays (ID/D). Through these trainings, educators will be better equipped to provide comprehensive, medically accurate sex education to our partners and program recipients with ID/D.
To learn more about our education and training programs for youth, parents, and professionals, visit www.pphp.org.
Town Hall Series for LGBTQ+ Community
Join PPHP and our community partners Gender Equity New York, PFY, Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, and New York Social Action, for an upcoming three-part town hall and advocacy series for LGBTQ+ communities on Long Island. Attendees will participate in open discussions about your communities’ needs, discuss issues you care about, gain tools to help in your advocating, and receive an overview of current legislation impacting LGBTQ communities. The first Town Hall is on Thursday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-advocacy-tickets-144237617597
On Tuesday, March 9 we hosted our annual Day of Action, but instead of traveling to Albany, participants attended meetings with state legislators from their homes. We had more than 100 activists register to attend meetings with 26 New York State Senators and Assembly members to discuss important issues related to reproductive health care.
Part of our legislative priorities this year include:
- funding for reproductive health care and New York State’s Family Planning Grant
- ensuring all students have comprehensive sex education
- extending Medicaid coverage for one year after giving birth
Thank you to everyone who participated and used their voice to advocate for reproductive health care. To learn more about our legislative priorities for this year, visit www.pphp.org.
Vogue: Why Is There So Much Silence Around Miscarriage?
AP: Arkansas governor signs near-total abortion ban into law
The Brown Girls Guide to Politics: Addressing the Black Maternal Healthcare Crisis
MEL Magazine: The Quiet Revolution in Trans Health Care
Bustle: OB/GYNs Answer All Your Questions About Having Sex With HPV
You can continue to make Care. No Matter What. possible!
Celebrate Your Birthday While Supporting PPHP
Did you know you can start a fundraiser on Facebook for your birthday, or any day, and ask your friends to support PPHP? It’s easy to do and can help more people learn about the health care, education, and advocacy we do.
Here’s what to do:
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/
- Click Raise Money
- Select Nonprofit
- Search for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic
- Set your Goal Amount
- Click Create
Once your Fundraiser is created, you can invite your Facebook friends to make a donation and share it on your Newsfeed. Facebook does not charge any fees for nonprofit fundraisers which means every cent your friends donate goes to supporting PPHP.
We hope you will take a few minutes and help us help others in our communities.
Other Ways to Give
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.