Family Planning Advocates Held Day of Action to Call on Legislature to Fund Bill Investing in Maine’s Family Planning Network Augusta, Maine –– On Thursday, dozens of advocates from across the state gathered at the State House urging lawmakers to fund LD 1478, “An Act to Improve Women’s Health and Economic Security by Funding Family Planning Services,” to invest in the state’s family planning network. Supporters met with their legislators, sending a strong message that investing in Maine’s family planning network is urgent and critical as health providers are serving more patients than ever wi ..read more

The case being heard before the Supreme Court this week has nothing to do with patient safety, as the anti-abortion groups that brought the lawsuit claim. Decades of research show that mifepristone is safe or safer than any other commonly used drugs, including penicillin and acetaminophen. It’s clear this attack is political in nature and part of a larger effort to ban abortion nationwide. Let me be clear: mifepristone and misoprostol remain available in the State of Maine at this time. Should the Supreme Court restrict access to mifepristone, Maine Family Planning will continue to provide acc ..read more

Eisenstadt v. Baird gave the legal right to contraception to everyone. But 52 years later, we still have to work to ensure everyone has the human right to bodily autonomy and the resources and freedom to control their sexual and reproductive lives. Today marks a critical anniversary in the long fight for reproductive rights: the landmark Eisenstadt v. Baird Supreme Court decision of 1972 that gave the legal right to obtain and use contraception to everyone in the United States––a right that was previously recognized solely for married, heterosexual couples. The tide began to turn in April of 1 ..read more

Family Planning Advocates Held Day of Action to Call on Legislature to Fund Bill Investing in Maine’s Family Planning Network  Augusta, Maine –– On Thursday, dozens of advocates from across the state gathered at the State House urging lawmakers to fund LD 1478, “An Act to Improve Women’s Health and Economic Security by Funding Family Planning Services,” to invest in the state’s family planning network. Supporters met with their legislators, sending a strong message that investing in Maine’s family planning network is urgent and critical as health providers are serving more patients than e ..read more

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Reproductive Justice movement –– a framework created by 12 Black women as a tool to imagine a more holistic, liberatory approach to reproductive health advocacy. In 1994, the Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice (WADRJ) convened for the first time in Chicago to address how the health rights movement had excluded Black women and other marginalized populations.  This Black History Month, we take a moment to reflect on the original demands of the Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice. In August of 1994, WADRJ took out a ful ..read more

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and the importance of cervical cancer screening and treatment cannot be overstated. Interventions play a pivotal role in early detection, prevention, and successful management of this potentially life-threatening disease. Early Detection Saves Lives: Cervical cancer often develops slowly, starting with precancerous changes that can be identified through regular screenings like Pap smears and HPV tests. Detecting abnormalities in their early stages allows for timely intervention, preventing the progression to invasive cancer. Preventing HPV-Related Can ..read more

Domestic violence is a deeply disturbing and pervasive issue that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence. It is a problem that transcends boundaries of gender, race, and socioeconomic status. But what sometimes goes unnoticed is the intricate web of connections between domestic violence and reproductive rights and justice. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s explore these intersections, shedding light on the ways in which they impact the lives of survivors and the ..read more

September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. Gynecological cancers can affect the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva. Early detection and timely treatment are key factors in improving the prognosis and overall quality of life for those affected. This blog post sheds light on the importance of screening for gynecological cancers and emphasizes the significance of self-advocacy as a patient. The Prevalence of Gynecological Cancers Gynecological cancers are not rare occurrences. In the United States alone, over 100,000 women are diagnosed with gynecological cancers each year. While ..read more

In the realm of public health and social advocacy, two seemingly distinct movements have emerged, each with its own unique objectives and strategies. Harm reduction, primarily associated with substance use and addiction, and reproductive justice, focused on gender equity and bodily autonomy, might appear disconnected at first glance. However, a deeper analysis reveals that these two movements intersect in profound ways, with shared values and a common goal of addressing structural inequalities and promoting the well-being of marginalized individuals. On International Overdose Awareness Day, le ..read more

This legislative session has been a long and grueling one, and Maine Family Planning acknowledges the work that all our citizen lawmakers do on behalf of their constituents.   Together with coalition partners we advanced legislation that protects and expands access to abortion in Maine, and we are proud of everything that we were able to achieve. We also celebrate important progress towards sovereignty for Wabanaki people, a statewide paid family and medical leave program, and investments in childcare infrastructure, just to name a few key victories for reproductive justice this sess ..read more