Advocates For Reproductive Education

TO INCREASE ACCESS AND DECREASE BARRIERS TO ACCURATE SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION AND SERVICES.

WEARE - THE CLINIC, A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINIC, OPENED IN OCTOBER 2017. WE HAVE HAD OVER 3,700 CLIENT VISITS SINCE OPENING, PROVIDING EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS, AND/OR TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STI). ALL CLIENTS ARE SCREENED FOR ENROLLMENT INTO THE MINNESOTA FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM (MFPP). MFPP COVERS FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES, INCLUDING ANNUAL EXAMS, BIRTH CONTROL, STI TESTING AND TREATMENT, AND PREGNANCY TESTING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH OR YOUNG ADULTS WHO DON'T WISH TO USE THEIR PARENTS' INSURANCE BECAUSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY. WEARE IS THE ONLY HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION IN CROW WING COUNTY ENROLLING CLIENTS IN MFPP. ABOUT 45% OF OUR CLIENTS ENROLL IN MFPP. WEARE OPERATES 2 OUTREACH CLINICS. WEARE@CLC IS OUR OUTREACH CLINIC LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS AT CLC. THIS CLINIC IS STAFFED WITH AN RN AND OFFERS FREE EDUCATION, STI TESTING/TREATMENT AND EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION AND PREGNANCY TESTS AVAILABLE TO THE MORE THAN 3900 STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE COLLEGE. CLIENTS WANTING BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS, INCLUDING CONDOMS, ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES, RINGS, PATCHES, IUDS, AND IMPLANTS, ARE REFERRED TO THE WEARE - THE CLINIC LOCATION. WEARE ALSO OPERATES A WEEKLY OUTREACH CLINIC AT THE RELATIONSHIP SAFETY ALLIANCE (FORMERLY MID-MINNESOTA WOMEN'S CENTER) AND IS STAFFED WEEKLY WITH AN RN TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE RESIDENTS (FEMALE VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE). WE OFFER ON-SITE STI AND PREGNANCY TESTING AND REFER TO WEARE - THE CLINIC FOR FOLLOW-UP, BIRTH CONTROL, OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. WE ARE PILOTING A GROWING STI DROP BOX PROGRAM TO ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SELF-SCREEN FOR CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA PRIVATELY, DROP THEIR SAMPLES CONFIDENTIAL AND CONVENIENTLY IN COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, AND RECEIVE TREATMENT IF NEEDED.

WEARE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCURATE, EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. WEARE IS CURRENTLY EXPANDING OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INTO 7 AREAS: STI, BIRTH CONTROL, ANATOMY, CONSENT, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, PARENT/CHILD WORKSHOPS, AND GENDER 101. WE HAVE REACHED THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS SINCE 2016. WEARE OFFERS SEVERAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SEXUAL HEALTH FOR 8TH AND 9TH GRADERS, PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK TEENS, LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND EVENTS AND EDUCATION SESSIONS AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WEARE CLINICAL STAFF WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NURSING STUDENTS, PROVIDING SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO ENHANCE EXISTING CURRICULUM. OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMMING CONTINUTES TO EXPAND WITH CLASSES FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN ECFE (EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY EDUCATION) AND SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AT PARTNER ORGANIZATION INCLUDING: THE SHOP, PORT HOME FOR GIRLS AND BOYS, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER AND LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES. IN 2023, LET'S TALK, OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR WITH EVIDENCE-BASED, MEDICALLY ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CONSENT, IDENTITY, SEXUAL HEALTH, AND MORE. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 750 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, 800 COLLEGE STUDENTS (INCLUDING 120 ATHLETES AND 180 NURSING STUDENTS), 200 PARENTS, 400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS (INCLUDING 70 PEOPLE IN THE CROW WING COUNTY JAIL), AND MORE!