NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is a founding member of a new initiative to prevent unplanned pregnancy and promote sexual health in the Commonwealth called Reproductive Empowerment and Decision Making for Young Adults (REaDY).

 

We are collaborating with a coalition of Massachusetts health service providers, advocates, and researchers on this unique, statewide project to reduce unplanned pregnancy among young adults in the wake of health care reform in the Commonwealth.

 

This multi-pronged, two-year initiative is focused on better understanding the individual, community, provider, and structural factors that influence the contraceptive behaviors of young adults aged 18 to 26 and on developing strategies to ensure that this age group has the resources they need to lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives. This includes making decisions about whether and when to become parents.

 

REaDY is led by an Executive Committee of multiple organizations and agencies within the Commonwealth. Ibis Reproductive Health is leading the formative research component, and the statewide, multi-agency taskforce is chaired by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Family Planning Program and coordinated by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Other Executive Committee members include the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Family Planning Association, and youth development specialist TiElla Grimes.

 

 

In 2006, Massachusetts passed legislation aimed at improving access to health care by mandating all residents have health insurance by July 2007.

 

Young adults ages 18 to 26 are among those most affected by Massachusetts health reform because, nationwide, they are the most likely to be un- or under-insured and to experience an unintended pregnancy.

 

For this reason, the implementation of health care reform in Massachusetts serves as an important entry for more fully exploring and understanding young adults’ sexual and reproductive health needs.

 

REaDY promises to offer a model for addressing pregnancy prevention and planning for young adults in the Commonwealth. The first year of the initiative will involve formative research, the results of which will inform actions undertaken in the second year to improve the health care system and better prepare health service providers to care for young adults. Research findings and lessons learned here in Massachusetts are also expected to inform national health care reform efforts.

 

 

Over the first year of the REaDY Initiative, we are currently undertaking formative research to better understand the impact of health reform on young adults’ access to contraceptive and reproductive health services and to elucidate ways in which systems and providers can be more responsive to young adults’ needs. The formative research includes three primary components:

We expect that the results from all three components of the project will be available by the end of 2009.

 

 

During the second phase (starting in fall 2009), a statewide Taskforce dedicated to unplanned pregnancy prevention among young adults will form and begin to meet. This Taskforce will be responsible for developing two interventions that improve providers’ responsiveness to young adults’ sexual and reproductive health needs, and empowers young adults to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health.

 

These activities may include: the launch of provider education and training initiatives (e.g., offering guidance for asking about sexual history, counseling on pregnancy prevention, etc.); the creation of multi-modal, multilingual young adult-friendly educational materials; the creation of a guide to help young adults navigate their health insurance options as it relates to sexual and reproductive health; and mobilized efforts to enhance the contraceptive coverage requirements of Young Adult Plans.

 

We anticipate that the Taskforce will grow to include at least 100 individuals representing a minimum of 25 agencies or organizations, including family planning agencies, medical schools, medical and public health associations, community health centers, colleges/universities, advocacy and community-based groups, and state and local health departments.