We have just seen a change that will fundamentally impact our culture for years and years to come. As part of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, by 2014 all new health insurance policies under the Exchange will cover all types of birth control with no co-pay. This is sound fiscal policy—for every $1 spent on contraception, taxpayers save $3.74 in public funding. In other words investments in birth control saves you money, America!
Now, discussing co-pays and legislation sounds very dry sometimes, but the real-world effects of this change are going to be felt by many women and their families across this nation very soon. This decision means that the college student won’t have to dip into her grocery money in order to pay for her pill pack; that a woman struggling to make ends meet and support her family will be able to afford her prescription; and the woman interested in a long-acting method like and IUD will be able to get it and not be stopped by the initial expense (these methods often cost much less over time, are highly effective and easily reversible).
Making birth control easier to get just makes sense. When women use birth control there are far fewer unintended pregnancies. Not surprisingly the countries where birth control is easiest to get also have the lowest rates of unintended pregnancy.
The bottom line is that removing cost barriers so that a woman can access birth control throughout her life time is good policy. The average woman spends 30 years of her life trying to avoid pregnancy; women know that planned pregnancies lead to happier, healthier families. Readily available birth control is a crucial step in making this happen.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
It's National Condom Week!
Valentine’s Day is a day of celebrating love for some. For others it will be a day in which they drown their single sorrows in chocolate and Cupid’s Broken Arrow Martinis. But no matter how you are celebrating, or sorrowing, February 14th is also the start of National Condom Week. And what better way to show you care than wearing protection with the one you love?
National Condom Week started in 1978 at UC Berkeley and has been used by colleges, high schools, and clinics as a method of outreach to remind the young, the old, and everyone in between, “no glove, no love.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, young people (age 15 -24) only make up 25% of the population, and yet this age group consists of more than half of the new sexually transmitted infections each year. Using condoms and education young people about safer sex practices could decrease this number. Condoms are 98% effective, if used correctly, at preventing pregnancy, and greatly increase protection against STIs.
So while you’re out buying chocolate and flowers, don’t forget the condoms (and the lube). Remember that the best way to show someone you love them is by using protection.
Need to freshen up on how to use a condom correctly? Check out this video from our Sexuality Education Training Institute...
National Condom Week started in 1978 at UC Berkeley and has been used by colleges, high schools, and clinics as a method of outreach to remind the young, the old, and everyone in between, “no glove, no love.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, young people (age 15 -24) only make up 25% of the population, and yet this age group consists of more than half of the new sexually transmitted infections each year. Using condoms and education young people about safer sex practices could decrease this number. Condoms are 98% effective, if used correctly, at preventing pregnancy, and greatly increase protection against STIs.
So while you’re out buying chocolate and flowers, don’t forget the condoms (and the lube). Remember that the best way to show someone you love them is by using protection.
Need to freshen up on how to use a condom correctly? Check out this video from our Sexuality Education Training Institute...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to abuse (sexual,
physical, psychological/emotional, or verbal) within a close
relationship. This may be between dating partners, domestic partners,
spouses or former spouses. Often times, IPV begins with
emotional/psychological or verbal abuse and escalates to physical or
sexual assault.
The CDC reports that women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes each year. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner related physical assaults.
IPV Can Be Prevented!
It’s important for people to understand what is involved in a healthy
relationship. Healthy relationships include expressing yourself
honestly, communicating openly, agreeing to disagree at times and
ultimately respecting one another. Unhealthy relationships may include
threats, intimidation, name-calling, stalking, jealousy, controlling
behavior or criticism.
If you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship, seek help! Talk to a trusted friend, counselor, or healthcare provider. There are many community resources available.
In Delaware, contact:
Kent/Sussex Domestic Violence Hotline 302-422-8058
New Castle County Domestic Violence Hotline 302-762-6110
Rape Crisis CONTACT Services 1-800-262-9800
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Understanding Intimate Partner Violence
physical, psychological/emotional, or verbal) within a close
relationship. This may be between dating partners, domestic partners,
spouses or former spouses. Often times, IPV begins with
emotional/psychological or verbal abuse and escalates to physical or
sexual assault.
The CDC reports that women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes each year. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner related physical assaults.
IPV Can Be Prevented!
It’s important for people to understand what is involved in a healthy
relationship. Healthy relationships include expressing yourself
honestly, communicating openly, agreeing to disagree at times and
ultimately respecting one another. Unhealthy relationships may include
threats, intimidation, name-calling, stalking, jealousy, controlling
behavior or criticism.
If you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship, seek help! Talk to a trusted friend, counselor, or healthcare provider. There are many community resources available.
In Delaware, contact:
Kent/Sussex Domestic Violence Hotline 302-422-8058
New Castle County Domestic Violence Hotline 302-762-6110
Rape Crisis CONTACT Services 1-800-262-9800
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Understanding Intimate Partner Violence
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Remember your New Year’s Pledge: More Good News About Exercise!
If there weren’t already enough benefits to being physically active, consider a new study conducted at the University of Vermont which found that mood can be elevated for up to 12 hours after exercise!
The study was conducted with college students exercising for 20 minutes at a moderate intensity level. Participants then completed a questionnaire which evaluated their mood at one, two, four, eight, 12 and 24 hrs after exercise. The study found that an elevated mood lasted for up to 12 hrs after exercise when compared to participants who didn’t exercise at all.
Need a Quick Exercise Mood-Boost During the Work Day?
Check out these simple tips for daily exercise (even while at the office)…
• Lift light weights (1-5 lbs) while sitting at your desk or talking on the phone
• Stash an exercise band in your desk for resistance work throughout the day
• Bring your gym shoes for a lunchtime power walk
• Squats and lunges are simple leg workouts that can be done down office corridors or hallways
• Try calf raises while typing on the computer
• Get your colleagues on board with exercise in the workplace – form a support group to motivate each other
• Start each workday with a 5-10 minute meditation to relax and quiet the mind
• Keep a water bottle at your desk to stay hydrated
Remember that exercise doesn’t have to be torture! A simple 20 minute workout each day can have significant health benefits including a happier, calmer demeanor in the workplace! You’re worth it!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Make your voice heard on election day!
The country is at a crossroads with some candidates and private interest groups pushing for extreme interpretations of the Constitution that would put government firmly back in people’s private lives.
One of the greatest pieces of the US Constitution is to acknowledge American’s right to privacy and freedom from government interference. Government has no business dictating the size or type of your family. Government has no business dictating what a woman does with her own body. Government has no business being led by extremists who are frighteningly out of the mainstream views of proudly moderate Delaware.
The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware urges voters to support candidates who believe in a woman’s right to control her own body; as well as equal access to health care, equal access to age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education, and equal treatment for all people with dignity and respect.
Tuesday, November 2, is not a day to stay home. Its time to make our voices heard and make sure we keep government out of our personal lives. For further information, visit www.pro-choicedelaware.org.
One of the greatest pieces of the US Constitution is to acknowledge American’s right to privacy and freedom from government interference. Government has no business dictating the size or type of your family. Government has no business dictating what a woman does with her own body. Government has no business being led by extremists who are frighteningly out of the mainstream views of proudly moderate Delaware.
The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware urges voters to support candidates who believe in a woman’s right to control her own body; as well as equal access to health care, equal access to age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education, and equal treatment for all people with dignity and respect.
Tuesday, November 2, is not a day to stay home. Its time to make our voices heard and make sure we keep government out of our personal lives. For further information, visit www.pro-choicedelaware.org.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
2010 Local Candidate Endorsements
Today the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware announced its endorsement of the 2010 General Assembly candidates. Every election year the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware (PPAFD) endorses candidates that support reproductive rights—including choice; family planning; and age-appropriate, medically-accurate sex education.
While much attention is focused on congressional races, state legislators make decisions every session that impact sexual and reproductive health in Delaware such as funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings and family planning services for low income women; regulation of health care organizations; and key new provisions of national health care reform.
Fifteen minutes after we launched the e-mail to our supporters announcing PPAFD’s endorsements, we got a phone call from a supporter asking why a particular state representative was not endorsed. It’s not easy to earn an endorsement and our supporters want to know who made the cut. See below, Delaware!
| State House of Representatives Endorsed Candidates | |
| Name | District |
| Rep. Helene Keeley (D) - Incumbent | House District 3 |
| Rep. Melanie George (D) - Incumbent | House District 5 |
| Debra Heffernan (D) | House District 6 |
| Rep. Bryon Short (D) – Incumbent | House District 7 |
| Rebecca Walker (D) | House District 9 |
| Rep. Deborah Hudson (R) - Incumbent | House District 12 |
| Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D) -Incumbent | House District 15 |
| Rep. James "JJ" Johnson (D) - Incumbent | House District 16 |
| Rep. Michael Barbieri (D) - Incumbent | House District 18 |
| David Ellis (D) | House District 22 |
| Rep. Teresa Schooley (D) - Incumbent | House District 23 |
| Edward Osienski (D) | House District 24 |
| Rep. John Kowalko (D) - Incumbent | House District 25 |
| Rep. John Viola (D) – Incumbent | House District 26 |
| John McCutchan (D) | House District 29 |
| Rep. Darryl Scott (D) - Incumbent | House District 31 |
| Jill A. Fuchs (D) | House District 34 |
| James Westoff (D) | House District 35 |
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|
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| State Senate Endorsed Candidates | |
| Name | District |
| Sen. Harris McDowell (D) - Incumbent | Senate District 1 |
| Sen. Patricia Blevins (D) - Incumbent | Senate District 7 |
| Sen. David Sokola (D) - Incumbent | Senate District 8 |
| Sen. Karen Peterson (D) - Incumbent | Senate District 9 |
| Sen. Bruce Ennis (D) - Incumbent | Senate District 14 |
The election will be held on November 2. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Want to know where to vote? Coming soon: polling place locations at www.pro-choicedelaware.org.
Questions? Call 302-655-7296, ext. 36. PPAFD endorsement decisions are made solely by the organization and are not in coordination with any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses John Carney for Congress
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced its endorsement of John Carney in Delaware’s At-Large Congressional race. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse John Carney for Congress,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “In Congress, John Carney will promote women’s health and fight to protect women’s reproductive rights.”
With experience in public service as well as the private sector, Carney knows firsthand the critical need for affordable, accessible health care and the importance of expanding access to care.
“Voters in Delaware want a women’s health champion in Congress,” said Nanci Hoffman, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware president. “John Carney will be that champion. He is a longtime advocate for preventive health care and will put commonsense policies for women’s health above ideology or politics. At a time when women’s access to basic health care is under attack, Delaware needs a representative like John Carney who will fight for women’s reproductive health.”
If elected, John Carney will work to improve access to quality health care for women, support and protect a woman's right to choose, and invest in prevention programs, including family planning services and breast cancer screenings.
The election will be held on November 2.
“The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse John Carney for Congress,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “In Congress, John Carney will promote women’s health and fight to protect women’s reproductive rights.”
With experience in public service as well as the private sector, Carney knows firsthand the critical need for affordable, accessible health care and the importance of expanding access to care.
“Voters in Delaware want a women’s health champion in Congress,” said Nanci Hoffman, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware president. “John Carney will be that champion. He is a longtime advocate for preventive health care and will put commonsense policies for women’s health above ideology or politics. At a time when women’s access to basic health care is under attack, Delaware needs a representative like John Carney who will fight for women’s reproductive health.”
If elected, John Carney will work to improve access to quality health care for women, support and protect a woman's right to choose, and invest in prevention programs, including family planning services and breast cancer screenings.
The election will be held on November 2.
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