Essential Access Health

Governor Josh Green has proclaimed August as Community Health Worker Awareness Month in Hawai‘i 🌺 🌈 Community Health Workers play an essential role in expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care, bridging gaps in services, and advocating for communities. We honor their commitment to advancing health equity and improving community well-being. #HICHWMonth #HealthEquity #CommunityHealthWorkers

We are proud to have co-authored a groundbreaking study with RTI International on equitable access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care that has the potential to drive real change to reduce health disparities and foster equity. The study, funded by the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA), introduces a new risk score, the Local Social Inequity in Sexual and Reproductive Health (LSI-SRH) score, which looks at how social determinants of health like poverty and wealth inequality, food insecurity, housing, and healthcare access affect the community-level risk of poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The LSI-SRH score is a community-level measure where "community" is defined as the census tract. After analyzing social determinants across 72,999 communities (i.e., census tracts) in the 50 states and District of Columbia, the researchers found that the LSI-SRH score accounts for a substantial amount (81%) of inequitable differences in sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The LSI-SRH score can be used to: • target interventions • influence resource distribution • inform policy development Together, we're making strides towards reducing SRH inequities. #SRH #HealthEquity #PublicHealth Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/eUTy436Z

Wonderful to have our Senior Director of Capacity Building, Andria Hancock-Crear, attend the Black Women For Wellness 25th Reproductive Justice Conference: A New ERA - Our Bodies, Our Voices, Our Freedom, alongside a strong champion for sexual and reproductive health, Attorney General Rob Bonta. The conference brings together a community of Black women and girls to discuss our fundamental rights and how they are in jeopardy. The event is in full swing with crucial conversations about reproductive justice and health equity. #ReproductiveJustice #BlackWomenForWellness #OurBodiesOurVoicesOurFreedom

The CDC's updated guidelines for contraception are here! The goals of these recommendations are to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception and to support the provision of person-centered contraceptive counseling and services in a noncoercive manner. Key updates: 1️⃣ New recommendations for providing pain medication when inserting an IUD. 2️⃣ New recommendations for bleeding irregularities during implant use. 3️⃣ New recommendations for testosterone use and risk for pregnancy. 4️⃣ New recommendations for self-administration of injectable contraception. These evidence-based recommendations serve as a source of guidance for health care providers. Read the full update: https://lnkd.in/gh9uN82A

Across the country, STI rates continue to rise at alarming rates, with over half of all reported cases of STIs among young people ages 15-24. The Youth Health Equity + Safety Act will improve health equity outcomes in California by making free condoms available in public high schools statewide and helping to protect access to comprehensive sex education! Send a letter and urge Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to pass #SB954 off of suspense in Assembly Appropriations and advance it to the floor! https://lnkd.in/enWs5kZg

We are excited to announce that Porsia L. Curry, Ed.D., M.S., has joined Essential Access Health as our new Vice President of Culture + People. Dr. Curry (she/her) brings 12 years of experience delivering strategic initiatives and policies that infuse and amplify diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) practices organization-wide, reimagine workplace culture and experiences, and operationalize equity in all areas of operation. Prior to joining Essential Access, Dr. Curry was Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for LA28, tasked with creating and advancing DEIB across the organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Previously, Dr. Curry spent nine years at the University of California, San Diego, serving as a Campus Diversity Officer and Center Director for the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion division. She is also a researcher focused on DEIAJ and workplace culture. Welcome, Dr. Curry!

Calling all campus abortion advocates! 📣 On August 21st, we’re hosting hosting a panel with Advocates for Youth and Essential Access Health to discuss the importance and need for providing timely access to medication abortion on college campuses in states without abortion restrictions. Student advocates, college health providers, and college administrators are encouraged to attend. Register today! Date: August 21st Time: 12:00 pm PST / 2:00 pm CT /  3:00 pm  EST Location: Zoom RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ecnmdqJ2 #collegestudents #abortion #healthcare #advocacy #zoom

It’s been our pleasure to uplift some members of our #TitleX provider networks across CA and HI during #NationalHealthCenter week.   In our final post for the week, we are excited to spotlight Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (PPPSW) and their dedication to the youth in their community 🙌🌟   PPPSW’s mission is to ensure broad public access to sexual and reproductive health care through direct service, education, and advocacy. With the support of Title X funding, PPSW ensures that their community has access to essential health care services.   In 2023, PPPSW gave educational presentations to 7,500 youth in their four-county region, providing presentations in schools and other settings.   PPPSW reached young people through their Peer Advocacy groups and attended community and campus events to provide resources and information on sexual and reproductive health services.    Additionally, PPPSW provided information and resources to 12,000 youth at health fairs and reached 1,008,305 youth through educational posts on social media related to sexual and reproductive health.    Thank you for all you to do support youth health and wellness, and for being a valued member of our #TitleX provider network, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest 🫶✨ #TitleXStrong

During #NationalHealthCenterWeek, we are celebrating members of our #TitleX provider networks across CA and HI 🌟🧡 Today’s theme is staff appreciation, and we are thrilled to uplift Brighter Beginnings, located in Richmond, California, for their dedication to their amazing staff members. Brighter Beginnings provides vital Title X-funded sexual and reproductive health services, ensuring their community has access to the care they want and need. In 2021, Brighter Beginnings established a Culture Committee, which fosters understanding and collaboration among their diverse team members. The Culture Committee also promotes staff appreciation through activities like Serenity Lounges, burnout prevention workshops, and movement classes. Brighter Beginnings celebrates employee milestones with quarterly potlucks, holiday celebrations, and heritage month recognitions, while also offering professional development opportunities such as communication skills workshops and mental health training. Thank you for supporting the ability of your staff to thrive, and for being a valued member of our #TitleX provider network, Brighter Beginnings 🫶✨ #TitleXStrong

Essential Access Health honors the incredible service and contributions of our #TitleX providers for #NationalHealthCenterWeek! 🏥❤️ Today, we are excited to spotlight CommuniCareOLE 🌟 CommuniCareOLE’s work is driven by a deep commitment to their community. They are dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality care to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, in a supportive, safe environment. CommuniCareOLE also believes in sexual and reproductive healthcare for all, and offers Title X-funded services like birth control, pregnancy testing, STI testing and treatment, HIV PrEP, emergency contraception, and more. Thank you, CommuniCareOLE, for being a valued member of our #TitleX provider network! 🫶✨#TitleXStrong