Insider News March 2023
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- Health Care: Endometriosis Awareness Month
- Education: Sex Education for All
- Advocacy & Government Relations: Creativity in Activism
- You can continue to make Care. No Matter What. possible!
- In Case You Missed It
Dear Friends,
This month is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the tenacity and strength of women throughout time. In our 90-year history, PPHP has been touched by quite a few trailblazing women who have shaped our organization. We take this month to acknowledge the work of all the women who have contributed to the fight for sexual and reproductive rights, including the work of queer, trans, and intersex folks who have often been overlooked.
This month, we proudly released the 2022 Year in Review, a snapshot of another monumental year at PPHP. Last year we completed 45,790 visits for over 27,000 patients across our 10 health centers. Our Education and Training team reached over 6,600 individuals with workshops and community events, and our Advocacy and Government Relations team engaged with almost 43,000 activists. We are humbled to serve so many people in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, and Suffolk counties, and we look forward to continuing to grow this year.
Thank you for your continued support of PPHP. We could not do this work without you. To get the latest information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to learn what is happening at PPHP and issues related to sexual and reproductive health care.
In this together,
Vincent Russell
President & CEO
Health Care: Endometriosis Awareness Month
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the kind that normally lines the inside the uterus (called the endometrium) grows outside the uterus, where it doesn’t belong.
Endometriosis can cause painful periods, heavy bleeding, discomfort during vaginal sex, lower back/belly pain, and infertility. Some people experience no symptoms. Endometriosis is common, affecting more than 5 million people in the U.S.
There is no cure for endometriosis but there are treatment options, including pain relievers, hormonal birth control, and surgery if symptoms are severe.
To learn more about endometriosis, visit pphp.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN to make an appointment and speak with a health care provider.
Education: Sex Education for All
Our Education and Training Team has been actively engaging with young people this month with programming across Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Suffolk counties.
Our Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Health Educator completed 10 cycles of our evidence-based programming, Be Proud Be Responsible! Combined with our general education programming, we reached over 300 middle school students in Suffolk County this month.
Our team’s partnership with the Putnam Youth Advisory Board has extended our reach in Putnam County. We are excited to add Green Chimney and Putnam Youth Court as new partners. We'll be providing educational programming to both organizations through the spring.
This month, our team members were also active on college campuses. We provided STI prevention lessons at Stony Brook University and tabled at Pace University’s Pride Hoop Night. Today, our Community Health Educator will be presenting at the PrideWorks 2023: The Annual Conference for LGBTQ Youth and their Allies at Pace University, where they will lead a workshop called, “Beyond Inclusion: LGBTQIA Affirming Sex Ed.” We are proud to be leading these conversations at this critical time for LGBTQIA rights. It’s our goal to provide educational opportunities to all students, of all ages and across all the counties we serve.
We also welcomed an intern to our team this past month, who will be supporting our department. We’re thrilled to have her! Check back on our website for more internship opportunities later this year.
To learn more about our Education and Training programs, please visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/local-education-training.
Advocacy & Government Relations: Creativity in Activism
Our Advocacy & Government Relations team completed a virtual Storytelling Training last month. It was a great opportunity to teach attendees how to harness this powerful activist tool. If you’re interested in using your voice to raise awareness about the importance of sexual and reproductive rights, we are always open to submissions to our Medium storytelling page. Be sure to check out our latest Medium series, “Some Realities of Birth Control,” where storytellers are sharing their real-life experiences with different birth control methods.
We have more creative activist opportunities coming up soon. On April 10 we’ll be hosting Craftivism Night with special guests Liberty Crochet Mural. (Those who attended Day of Action will remember their incredible mural hanging in the Capitol.) Craftivism pairs crafts with fighting for social justice––and no craft experience is necessary! You can learn more here.
For students looking for opportunities to get involved with PPHP, applications for our internship program are now open. The deadline to apply is April 30. You can learn more about the position and download the application form here.
Check out our Monthly Activist Calendar for more ways to get involved in PPHP Advocacy efforts.
PPHP’s 90th Anniversary: A Moment in History
In honor of PPHP’s 90th Anniversary, we will be answering a question about our organization’s history each month.
In which region were the first PPHP health centers started?
Between the years 1933-1937, several Westchester communities, spontaneously and with little or no apparent consultation or collaboration, began four birth control and family planning clinics. The communities spread from New Rochelle to Port Chester and from Mt. Vernon to Mt. Kisco. The east would see its first center almost 20 years later when Planned Parenthood Center of North Suffolk opened its doors in March 1951.
Be sure to mark your calendars and share these events with your friends and family.
Craftivism Night
Monday, April 10, 2023
White Plains
More information here
Making Waves in Huntington
Thursday, May 11, 2023
The Vanderbilt Museum, Centerport
More information here
Making Waves: PPHP’s Hamptons Benefit
Saturday, June 3, 2023
The Clubhouse, East Hampton
More information here
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.
F.D.A. Will Require Dense Breast Disclosure at Mammogram Clinics (The New York Times)
With a New Gel, the Future of Male Birth Control Looks Bright (Gizmodo)