Recent Articles
June 30th, 2009 • Contributed by Sue Kettner
Earlier this month, a woman came into the FPHS Drive-Up and made a donation. She told us that she had promised herself if she ever drove past our clinic and saw people protesting, she would make a contribution. That day, because the protesters were standing there, she drove around the block, into the Drive-Up, pulled out her checkbook and made a donation.
It happened again with a different person today — another donation because protesters were standing in front of the family planning clinic in Wausau.
It has been hard for FPHS staff, myself included, to understand the protests outside the clinic because we know that we provide caring, compassionate voluntary contraceptive care that prevents unintended pregnancy (and care that helps people take responsibility for their reproductive health including planning for healthy pregnancies when they are ready.)
Having two supporters take the time and make a gift to show their support for us and our services, makes all of us feel appreciated. I’d like to invite all of you to drive through (maybe pick up some condoms) or, if there’s no line, just tell the staff at the window that you support family planning.
I’m sure that there are many times when people speak up for access to birth control when it isn’t easy. To those who do, “THANK YOU!!”
No Comments • Posted in: Action
June 19th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
Lately, it seems I can’t turn around without another news snippet abut how health care reform is going to happen now. In every snippet one side or the other is discussion whether there is a problem, how to solve it and how the solution will help or harm the American people. My personal favorite is the question, “Will health care reform lead to socialism in America?” I am intrigued by this whole process. But part of me just wishes we could get on with it already.
I’m old enough to remember the “first” go round at health care reform back in 1993. At the time, I believed that everyone had health insurance through work (like my parents) and I couldn’t fathom why the government couldn’t just give health care to the few people who didn’t have it. (As a note to my readers, at the time I applied this same level of understanding to the provision of other basic need items like food, shelter, clothing and the latest Nirvana and Pearl Jam CDs. I was, after all, 11.) This time around, I know that we can’t wait another sixteen years to try again and that we have to figure out more than how to pay for it.
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No Comments • Posted in: Policy
June 17th, 2009 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
The Senate HELP Committee has started work on its health care reform bill - and they need to hear from you. The bill represents a giant step forward in our efforts to get quality, affordable health care for all women, but some Senators have introduced amendments that would be very damaging to women’s health and that would advance political agendas over accurate science and med
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No Comments • Posted in: Action
June 4th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
As seemingly everyone knows, Dr. Tiller, a Kansas gynecologist, was killed on Sunday because he was willing to provide abortion services. I never met Dr. Tiller, but I am familiar with his work. I work for a family planning agency in Wisconsin that is prohibited form providing medical referrals for abortion services. This makes providing information to patients seeking such services a challenge, but we manage to thread the needle.
As a result, I understand that health care workers who make abortion services available are everyday heroes. But Dr. Tiller was different.
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No Comments • Posted in: Abortion
June 4th, 2009 • Contributed by Dahlia Ward
This blog was originally posted on June 3rd on the ACLU’s Blog of Rights. It was written by Sondra Goldschein and Allie Bohm.
On Sunday, May 31, Dr. George Tiller, a doctor in Wichita, Kansas, who for decades provided abortions for women even in the face of harassment and violence, was murdered at his place of worship. Sondra Goldschein and Allie Bohm, both of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), attended events in New York City and Washington, D.C., honoring Dr. Tiller’s life.
Sondra Goldschein writes:
When I heard about the murder of Dr. Tiller on Sunday evening, I went from shock to tears to fear to loss. I could feel those emotions but I couldn’t put into words what a tragedy his death is. I finally found the words from Dr. Tiller himself.I attended one of at least forty events across the country honoring Dr. Tiller’s life on Monday night. I was one of a large group of people in downtown Manhattan who heard a story about Dr. Tiller that cut to the core of who this remarkable man was. The story was told by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
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No Comments • Posted in: Abortion
April 23rd, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
For a number of years, advocates for reproductive health care and for the empowerment of young people have been warning about the dangers of Abstinence-Only Sexuality Education. As predicted, years after heavily funding this initiative to deny people, particularly young people, accurate information about reproductive health topics, we are beginning to see an up tick in the number of teen pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted infections. SIECUS released it’s State Profiles: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States for Fiscal Year 2008. It’s a fascinating and complete look at what kind of sex ed is happening and the related health outcomes.
Coincidentally, Tara Malone of the Chicago Tribune took a look at the issue in Illinois which ranks fourth in receipt of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage funds. Her article, Sex ed: Abstinence-only programs under review, is a great read on the tough challenges that state faces. As we see increasing numbers of teen pregnancies, births, and sexually transmitted infections, more communities are discussing the sex ed programs in their communities. In my community, I know we have a curriculum for sex ed, but it’s hard to find out if it is being taught district wide. What’s happening in your community?
No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed
