AccessMatters

AccessMatters, a non-profit public health organization located in Philadelphia, envisions a future where every person has the health care and information they seek. In service to that vision, AccessMatters’ mission is to protect, expand, and enhance equitable access to s*xual and reproductive health care and information for all people.

Want to join the mission? Check out our open positions here – https://www.accessmatters.org/category/career/ - also listed below:

- Coordinator, Communications and Advocacy (In-Unit Position)
- Business Systems and Data Analyst
- President & CEO

Submit both a cover letter and resume within your application. If you have any questions, please reach out to us via e-mail at [email protected].

AccessMatters’ Information Hotline is the source where you can get so many of your s*xual and reproductive healthcare questions answered!

We can also connect you with affordable healthcare options near you in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

at 215-985-3300 or text the hotline at 833-667-3377! You can also check out our Consumer Health Information page on our website: https://ow.ly/6nYK50QTx3J

July is !

“Disability Pride Month happens every July to mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was passed on July 26, 1990. The first celebration was a Disability Pride Day that took place in Boston in 1990. Chicago hosted the first Disability Pride Parade in 2004. Now there are events nationwide empowering people with disabilities to take pride in who they are.”

In July and during every month, people with disabilities must be heard, uplifted, and supported.

Read more about this month here: https://cws.thearc.org/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/

AccessMatters' Information Hotline will be closed for the week of Monday, July 1 - Friday, July 5. The hotline will reopen and continue normal business hours on Monday, July 8 starting at 9 AM. Have a safe and wonderful week!

means both celebration and education! It is important we learn about LGBTQIA+ folks, their history, and their identities.

“Based on data from respondents in the Household Pulse Survey… at least 20 million adults in the United States could be le***an, gay, bis*xual, or transgender - nearly 8% of the total adult population,” (Powell, 2021 - Human Rights Campaign)

We must remember that the LGBTQIA+ community is vast and diverse and every individual has different needs and experiences. We must continue to put effort in to learn about the community all throughout the year and not just in June.

What will you do to continue to support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community all year round?

and help us sustain our work to protect and expand access to s*xual and reproductive health. June 30 wraps up our fiscal year and your donation matters. http://www.accessmatters.org/support-us

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day when we emphasize the importance of HIV testing and knowing your HIV status. This year's NHTD theme, '"Level up your self-love: check your status," encourages us to get tested to show that we value, respect, and have compassion for ourselves, by taking charge of our health and wellness.

Visit https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/director-letters/nhtd-2024.html to learn more about this day and how you can get involved.

You can also call PA HIV Connect at 1-800-662-6080 to find out where you can get low-cost accessible HIV testing in Pennsylvania.

Act now! https://accessmatters.salsalabs.org/passcontraceptiveaccessinpa
Contraceptive access is coming before Pennsylvania legislators tomorrow. The PA State House is scheduled to vote on House Bill 1140, “Contraceptive Access for All Act” introduced by Rep. Leanne Krueger The bill provides state protections for contraceptive access in the manner of the Affordable Care Act. Contraception is basic health care and should be accessible and affordable to anyone who seeks to use it. Take action NOW to tell your state representative to vote to pass House Bill 1140 and guarantee that all Pennsylvanians have access to contraception! https://accessmatters.salsalabs.org/passcontraceptiveaccessinpa

Today, June 24, 2024, marks two years since the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade and decimated federal protections for abortion access nationwide.

"The Dobbs decision issued June 24, 2022 upheld Mississippi's ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Since then, states have enacted a range of laws from near-total abortion bans to shield laws protecting patients from other states who travel to get the procedure. The decision has even bled into questions on the FDA's independence and access to in vitro fertilization." (USA Today)

It is important that we reflect on this day and consider what the abortion landscape in the United States looks like now. Millions of people who have the ability to get pregnant, including women, trans, and nonbinary people, live in states where abortion is banned and would be forced to travel hundreds of miles to get one. This can jeopardize the physical, mental, and financial health of a person who is pregnant.

The Guttmacher Institute map shows the current abortion landscape. We must continue to fight for reproductive rights, advocate for abortion access, support people who receive abortion care as well as their healthcare providers, and be dedicated to protecting access.

AccessMatters' Information Hotline will close today at 3:00 PM. The hotline will close every Friday at 3:00 PM from May 31 - August 30. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you have a great weekend.

Paid family leave promotes healthy and secure bonds between parents and babies and improves birth outcomes.
Do your state elected officials support paid family leave? Let lawmakers know that YOU want paid family leave in Pennsylvania! https://secure.everyaction.com/rh1-7ldzIkmZXzvF88XG-g2

Today, June 19, is !

This day is recognized every year to commemorate when Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay and across Texas.

“In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people. Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement while aiding in the preservation of those historical narratives that promoted racial and personal advancement since Freedom Day.” You can read more here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

We all have a responsibility to learn about Juneteenth, support and uplift Black Americans, and fight against racism in our society not only on this day, but every day!

Consider making a donation to New Voices for Reproductive Justice, a Black- and queer-led movement organization dedicated to advancing reproductive justice in PA and OH. https://newvoicesrj.org/

AccessMatters' Information Hotline will close today, Tuesday, June 18 at 3 PM and be closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The hotline will reopen and continue normal business hours on Thursday, June 20 starting at 9 AM. Happy Juneteenth!

June is

Pride month is recognized every year in June as a way to uplift the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrate their contributions and accomplishments, and continue to fight for their rights and equality. Pride has been observed for more than 50 years and it all started with the Stonewall Riots of 1969. This was a major turning point in LGBTQIA+ history and is recognized by many as a major victory towards earning more rights and equality for the community.

It is important to not only recognize the LGBTIQA+ community and their needs in June, but during all months of the year. This year alone there have been more than 500 proposed pieces of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. There is a lot of work to do in order to ensure the community is able to not simply exist, but thrive!

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a case that would have limited access to mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion. This ruling is a victory in that it ensures access to mifepristone will remain available.

Supreme Court dismisses case that would have limited abortion pill access In a 9-0 ruling, the high court shot down a challenge to the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, allowing the drug to continue to be prescribed online.

AccessMatters' Information Hotline will close today, Wednesday May 29 at 2:30 PM. The hotline will reopen and continue normal business hours tomorrow on Thursday, May 30 starting at 9 AM. Have a wonderful day.

AccessMatters' Information Hotline will close today, Friday, May 24 at 3 PM and be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. The hotline will reopen and continue normal business hours on Tuesday, May 28 starting at 9 AM. Have a safe and wonderful weekend.

May is

This entire month is dedicated to raising awareness around the mental health struggles and conditions that pregnant people and families may face.

We must recognize that mental health is health and all pregnant people deserve access to mental health care before, during, and after their pregnancy.

To learn more about this month and action that can be taken, visit https://www.postpartum.net/join-us/maternal-mental-health-month/

The AccessMatters team enjoyed time with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs Jess Marcella at NFPRHA’s annual celebration of the Griswold Supreme Court decision guaranteeing the right to contraception - a right we must guard fiercely!

Melissa and Bruce were grateful to be back on the Hill with advocates from across the country, educating legislators about the critical need for increased Title X family planning funding and the passage of the Right to Contraception Act!

May is Month!

“The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. AAPI people are a diverse and growing population that make up about 7 percent of the total U.S. population.”

During this month, we must recognize and celebrate the contributions of the AAPI community and fight anti-Asian hate and racism on all levels. May is only a starting point for these actions to take place all months of the year.

May is

People who experience pelvic pain often have several conditions, including but not limited to endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, vaginismus, and many more.

“By raising awareness, we can empower people to recognize symptoms, seek appropriate medical care, and break the silence surrounding pelvic pain, ultimately fostering better understanding, support, and treatment options for those affected.”(IUGA)

Read more about this month and find resources related to pelvic pain here: https://www.pelvicpain.org/resources/may-is-pelvic-pain-awareness-month

Today is . Research is currently underway for both the preventative and therapeutic HIV vaccines. “A preventive HIV vaccine is given to people who do not have HIV, with the goal of preventing HIV infection in the future. A therapeutic HIV vaccine is a vaccine that is designed to improve the body’s immune response to HIV in a person who already has HIV.” (NIH)

Learn more here: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/hiv-aids-awareness-days/hiv-vaccine-awareness-day

On Friday, May 17, AccessMatters' Information Hotline will be closed. We will return to normal business hours on Monday, May 20. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you have a great weekend!

Today, Monday May 6, 2024, AccessMatters' Information Hotline will close at 2PM. We will return to normal business hours from 9 am - 5 PM tomorrow, May 7, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you have a great day!

May is “It’s a month focused on providing young people with the s*xual health information and access to resources they need and deserve in order to make healthy decisions for themselves.” (SIECUS)

We can all observe this month by advocating for comprehensive and inclusive s*x education that is accessible for all people.

Read more about this month and its importance here: https://ow.ly/1KTU50Ru8mA

This month is Mental Awareness Health Month. Join NAMI in normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame. https://ow.ly/tgRh50RsxGt