Family Planning Association Of Maine Inc

TO ENSURE THAT ALL MAINE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AND THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES.

COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES: MAINE FAMILY PLANNING (MFP) PROVIDES FUNDING, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE TO 41 CLINICS STATEWIDE, IN ADDITION TO OFFERING DIRECT SERVICES AT 18 CLINICS IN AUGUSTA, BANGOR, BELFAST, CALAIS, DAMARISCOTTA, DEXTER, ELLSWORTH, FARMINGTON, FORT KENT, HOULTON, LEWISTON, MACHIAS, NORWAY, PRESQUE ISLE, RUMFORD, SKOWHEGAN, THOMASTON, AND WATERVILLE. THROUGH THIS NETWORK OF DIRECTLY OPERATED CLINICS AND SUBGRANTEE PARTNERS, MFP SERVES 31,417 LOW-INCOME MAINERS ANNUALLY WITH EXPERT AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES ON A SLIDING-FEE SCALE THAT INCLUDE: - COMPREHENSIVE AND MEDICALLY ACCURATE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TO HELP CLIENTS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND LIVES; - GYNECOLOGICAL EXAMS; - PREGNANCY TESTING AND OPTIONS COUNSELING; - FAMILY PLANNING, INCLUDING FIRST-TRIMESTER MEDICATION AND ASPIRATION ABORTION CARE SERVICES; - EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION; - STD AND HIV TESTING AND TREATMENT; - SCREENINGS FOR REPRODUCTIVE CANCERS; - COLPOSCOPY FOR EVALUATION OF ABNORMAL PAP TESTS; AND - GENDER AFFIRMING CARE. MFP'S REPRODUCTIVE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (REP) INCREASES ACCESS TO CLINICAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGH RISK FOR ADVERSE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AND/OR ARE IN RECOVERY. REP OUTREACH COORDINATORS BRING TESTING, CONTRACEPTION, AND PREVENTION RESOURCES TO LOCATIONS SUCH AS RECOVERY HOMES, EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND ENCAMPMENTS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS, AS WELL AS FACILITATE ON-SITE TELEHEALTH VISITS CONNECTING PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS TO LOWER BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND RESOURCES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. MFP ADMINISTERS A WIC PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON AND HANCOCK COUNTY. THE WIC PROGRAM PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS FOODS, NUTRITION EDUCATION (INCLUDING BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION AND SUPPORT), AND REFERRALS TO HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS AT NO CHARGE. WIC SERVES LOW-INCOME PREGNANT, POSTPARTUM AND BREASTFEEDING WOMEN, AND INFANTS AND CHILDREN UP TO AGE 5 WHO ARE AT NUTRITION RISK. WIC SERVED 2,104 RECIPIENTS IN FY 2022. MFP HAS A MAINE FAMILIES HOME VISITOR PROGRAM IN HANCOCK COUNTY. THE MAINE FAMILIES PROGRAM UNDERSTANDS THAT ALL PARENTS WANT THE BEST FOR THE BABIES. CARING AND PROFESSIONAL HOME VISITORS PARTNER WITH PARENTS AND PARENTS-TO- BE TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THEIR BABY AND ENTIRE FAMILY. SERVICES ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY NEEDS.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS: MAINE FAMILY PLANNING OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CURRICULUM RESOURCES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MAINE EDUCATORS TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION TO YOUTH OF ALL AGES. RESOURCES INCLUDE THREE AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA (PUBERTY HAPPENS FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY YOUTH, A MIDDLE SCHOOL SCOPE AND SEQUENCE CURRICULUM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE YOUTH AND BEST PRACTICES IN STI/HIV AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH). ALL THREE CURRICULUM RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE FOR EDUCATORS PAGE. ONE OF THESE CURRICULA - THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCOPE AND SEQUENCE - WAS REVISED AND UPDATED IN LATE 2021. IN ADDITION, A PRINTED RESOURCE - TEEN POCKET GUIDE TO ACCESSING SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES - WAS CREATED, PRINTED, AND DISPERSED TO SCHOOLS, HEALTH PROVIDERS' OFFICES, AND TO OTHER YOUTH- SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. THE EDUCATION TEAM PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO EDUCATORS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF IN 50 SCHOOLS, DELIVERING 66 EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS IMPACTING 224 PROFESSIONALS AND 400 YOUTH. A TOTAL OF 660 STUDENTS FROM 10 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN A PRE AND POST ASSESSMENT SURVEY WHICH DEMONSTRATED INCREASES IN KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND SKILLS RELATED TO SAFER SEXUAL HEALTH BEHAVIORS, UPON RECEIVING SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION. THE PREVENTION PROGRAM TEAM PROVIDED 12 WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS (ALL VIRTUAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE) ON TOPICS RELATED TO SEXUAL HEALTH, WITH 167 EDUCATORS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVING PROFESSIONALS ATTENDING, AND ONE VIRTUAL ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN WHICH 170 PEOPLE ATTENDED. A MONTHLY SEXUALITY EDUCATION E-NEWSLETTER, THE BEEHIVE, PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, TO A SUBSCRIBER LIST THAT GREW FROM 950 TO OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. MFP'S PREVENTION PROGRAM ALSO CONTINUED ITS WORK THROUGH THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP), PARTNERING WITH NEW BEGINNINGS TO DELIVER EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING USING THE FEDERALLY- APPROVED MAKING PROUD CHOICES CURRICULUM. DURING A YEAR IN WHICH COVID CONTINUED TO POSE CHALLENGES TO STAFFING AND YOUTH ATTENDANCE, AVAILABLE DOCUMENTATION REPORTED 46 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ON SEXUAL HEALTH TOPICS. THE MFP PREVENTION EDUCATION TEAM WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE 2021 COMMUNITY AWARD FROM THE MAINE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE (MAHPERD) FOR THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES DEVELOPED FOR EDUCATORS FOR VIRTUAL AND HYBRID EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AGENCY AND MISSION RELATED PROJECTS: MAINE FAMILY PLANNING RECOGNIZES THE HISTORIC AND PRESENT INEQUITIES IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS THAT IMPACT BLACK, INDIGENOUS, LATINO/A/X, ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AS WELL AS THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQI+ AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AS DEFINED BY THE SISTERSONG WOMEN OF COLOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE COLLECTIVE, AND WE STRIVE TO OPERATE OUR CLINICAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS UTILIZING A DEIA (DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ANTI-RACISIM) LENS. SINCE 1971, MFP HAS WORKED TO PROTECT THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF ALL MAINE CITIZENS. MFP IS FOUNDED ON THE PREMISE THAT MAINERS MUST HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND INFORMATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND CONTROL THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES. MFP'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES STATEWIDE TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING. EACH NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRINGS NEW LEGISLATORS THAT REQUIRE EDUCATION TO DISPEL MYTHS ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND RIGHTS, AND TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AS BASIC HEALTH CARE, RATHER THAN SIMPLY A POLITICAL ISSUE. WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON A STRONG NETWORK OF PRO-CHOICE, PRO-FAMILY PLANNING GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS WHO COMMUNICATE VERY POWERFULLY WITH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT IN PROTECTING AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL MAINE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS AND AGENCY-ENDOWED RESOURCES FUND THESE PROJECTS. NO PUBLIC FUNDS ARE USED.