We are nearly two months into the 2024 Legislative Session and there is a lot happening! Please see below for a list of repro bills we are tracking so far. House Bills We’re Tracking House Bill 10: KY Lifeline for Moms  This bill would establish the Kentucky maternal psychiatry access program, also known as the Kentucky Lifeline for Moms; establish duties and responsibilities of the program; direct that the program shall be operated by the Department for Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health.  Sponsor: Moser, K.  Current Status: Introduced  House Bill 173 ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager All Access EKY has been very active in the community over the last few months! Keep reading to see what we have been up to. Appalachian Media Institute 2023 Summer Documentary Institute We were able to join the Appalachian Media Institute during the fourth week of their Summer Documentary Institute for a reproductive well-being workshop! We had the opportunity to teach them a little more about the state of reproductive well-being in Kentucky and how they can advocate in their own communities. All Access EKY was built on the ability to give young peopl ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager There are many misconceptions surrounding birth control that often lead to confusion and misinformation. In this blog post, we will debunk some of the most common misconceptions about birth control, providing accurate information to help you make informed decisions about your reproductive health. FACT: Birth control does not affect your ability to have children in the future. One of the most widespread misconceptions about birth control is that it causes infertility. However, this is far from the truth. Birth control methods, including the pill, patch ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager Last summer, All Access EKY supported Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) interns to create a media piece that focused on sexual and reproductive health in Appalachia. After finally completing rounds at numerous film festivals, ‘No Such Right: The End of Roe in Appalachia’ is now live to stream on YouTube! ‘No Such Right’ is a snapshot of a region in crisis. In the aftermath of the stunning Dobbs v Jackson decision, doctors, lawyers, activists, and young people across Appalachia had to come to terms with what the future of their region and their rights would ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager April has been an extremely busy month for All Access EKY! Keep reading below to see everything we have been working on. Hosted Our First AAEKY 2023 Advisory Board Meeting FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Dr. Alecia Fields, Maui Hall, Heather Ayer, Joanne Brown, Cara Ellis, Dustin Miracle, Susan Kincaid, Sarah Ratliff, Cait Cummings Meet the All Access EKY Advisory Board! We’re honored to have this brilliant group of folks working with our team to help grow our impact and mission. We were able to have our first in-person meeting of the year in Pikeville, KY. W ..read more

By: Annika Reitenga April is STI Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and promoting sexual health education. If you have recently been diagnosed with an STI, it's important to remember that you are not alone. STIs are very common, and many people who have them may not even know it. While receiving a diagnosis may feel overwhelming, it's crucial to take action and seek proper medical care. In this blog post, we'll discuss what to do if you've been diagnosed with an STI, including how to talk to your partner(s) about the diagnosis ..read more

Adapted from All Access EKY’s YouTube video, Will You Please Be My Valentine Consent is something that applies to all kinds of healthy relationships. Consent is an agreement between two people to ensure that both individuals feel comfortable and safe, prior to engaging in sexual activities. Consent is a major part of fostering a healthy relationship. This conversation should create space for both individuals to freely communicate their boundaries and acknowledge each partner's preferences. A great pneumonic device to remember key components of consent is FRIES. Consent is: Freely given, Rever ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager Speaking up about birth control access has never been more important than it is NOW! That’s why we are joining Power to Decide today on #ThxBirthControl day to speak up about why we love our birth control. Keep reading to learn what these Eastern Kentuckians love about their contraceptive method and why they are saying, “Thanks, Birth Control!’ “I love my birth control pills because all I have to do is remember to take my pill every morning and I’m protected from pregnancy all day, every day. Not only this, but they keep my skin clear from hormonal breakou ..read more

by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager If you're a young person in America, you probably know the struggle of trying to access contraception and other reproductive healthcare at a pharmacy. For many people, birth control, Plan B (aka "the morning after pill"), and condoms are all hard to come by, especially if you live in a health care or pharmacy desert. And even if you have pharmacies or drug stores nearby, stores may impose additional barriers to access, like lock-up devices.  These devices or cabinets prevent customers from getting their hands on emergency contraceptives unless they as ..read more

by: Megan Duff, AAEKY Advisory Board Communications Co-Chair Need a way to access birth control online, but don’t have insurance? Check out NURX.com!  Directly from their website, Nurx offers “a discreet, quick, and affordable way to get medication.” You can get different forms of birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, HPV screenings, fertility and pregnancy tests, etc. This service offers low costs even without insurance, depending on the type of medication you choose.  “Nurx is built to deliver on the three things everyone needs from their healthcare. Choice ..read more