Insider News October 2021
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Celebrating Let's Talk Month
- Join Our Community Advisory Council
- How You Can Help
- In Case You Missed It
Dear Friends,
I know there has been a lot of negative news lately related to sexual and reproductive health so I want to share good news—the Biden administration is close to repealing the Title X Gag Rule that was implemented by the Trump administration. This rule, entitled "Ensuring access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality family planning services," will end the Title X gag rule once implemented on November 8. The rule also includes updates to Title X family planning program regulations and definitions to meet a better and more wholesome understanding of health equity and inclusivity.
I want to remind you that it is time to vote again! If you wish to receive an absentee ballot, your application must be received by the New York State Board of Elections by October 18. Early voting in New York begins on October 23 and goes through October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. For more information or to check your voting registration, please visit https://www.elections.ny.gov/.
Thank you again for your continued support of PPHP and our mission to 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 solidarity,
Vincent Russell
President & CEO
This month we celebrate breast cancer awareness and want to remind you of the importance of preventive screenings as part of your annual wellness exam. Clinical breast exams can detect a lump in your breast and other changes that may require more testing. Breast exams are one of the most important early breast cancer screenings.
People with breasts should get a breast exam every one to three years from ages 25 to 39. Once you turn 40, you should get a breast exam every year and a mammogram every one to two years. If you or someone related to you has had breast or ovarian cancer, speak to your health care provider as you may need to have more frequent breast cancer screenings.
At PPHP, we provide breast exams to our patients. If you need to schedule an appointment, please visit www.pphp.org or call 800-230-PLAN (7526) today.
October is Let’s Talk Month, a great opportunity for parents, guardians, and caregivers top talk opening with young people about sex, identities, relationships, and their bodies. Open communication sets kids up to have healthy relationships and strong futures.
At PPHP, we know there’s no better resource for young people than a supportive adult. When parents and caregivers are comfortable talking with their kids about relationships and sex, they are better able to support young people as they learn to make healthy decisions, fostering satisfying friendships and intimate relationships throughout their lives.
As the nation’s largest provider of sex education, Planned Parenthood wants to make it as easy as possible for parents and caregivers to have open, honest conversations with their kids. Our Education and Training team offers parent education programs which cover a range of topics such as consent, anatomy and puberty, sex and media, contraception, and tips for having “the talk” with your young person. All of our education is offered in English and Spanish. To attend one of our upcoming virtual parent programs, please contact Michelle at [email protected].
Whether you have a preschooler, a high schooler, or anywhere in between, you can get support about how to talk about issues like personal safety, healthy friendships and relationships, bodies and body image, gender identity and sexual orientation, sexual health, and more. Planned Parenthood has multiple videos for parents and caregivers in both English and Spanish, providing tips on how to start conversations with preschool, elementary, middle, and high school-aged children and teens, about sex and relationships, in developmentally appropriate ways. Parents and caregivers can find guidance on how to talk with their kids of any age about a variety of topics on our website at PlannedParenthood.org/Parents.
Join Our Community Advisory Council
We are creating a Community Advisory Council which will help inform and amplify an advocacy campaign around Comprehensive Sex Education. Members of the council will work with PPHP to:
- review activist materials to ensure they are informative and relevant to specific communities, with easy-to-do actions to advocate for comprehensive sex education in your own communities;
- connect with other activists across our region to brainstorm how to encourage peers and neighbors to fight for comprehensive sex education;
- and take action with us and become a leader for comprehensive sex education in your community.
The Council will meet twice a month for three months virtually (through Zoom), acting as advisors and lead activists to our Public Affairs team.
Would you be interested in joining the Community Advisory Council? Tell us more about why you want to get involved here! Our Public Affairs team is eager to bring together the Council to get started on this important work!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected], and we are happy to answer any of your questions.
Thank You For Making The Empower Gala Such a Success
Thanks to your generous support, our Empower Gala raised more than $470,000 for our health care services, education programs, and advocacy efforts. We also extend our appreciation to those who donated during the evening to help us expand our mobile health center program.
Our emcee PIX’s Kirstin Cole kept the evening moving and our keynote speaker, Jennifer Sandman, provided a thorough overview of states blocking or attempting to block access to abortion, specifically Texas and Mississippi. We honored the Ellis Family with the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Impact Award and Elaine Chapnick with the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Legacy Award. Friends and family members of both honorees shared touching stories and made it a wonderful evening.
If you were unable to join us for The Empower Gala, you can watch the recording of the event.
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 Chief Medical Officer Dr. Meera Shah:
Teen Vogue: What Six Weeks Pregnant Actually Means
CNN: Supreme Court to hear arguments for Kentucky abortion case Tuesday
ABC News: Following one Texas woman's abortion journey over state lines: Reporter's Notebook
Shape: Could Widespread Vasectomies Be a Better Form of Birth Control?