Expanding the Capacity of the Contraceptive Care Workforce
Learn about strategies to expand the capacity of the Contraceptive Care Workforce and ensure consistent delivery of care
CECA worked with an interdisciplinary group of experts to identify evidence-based, actionable strategies to expand capacity and ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, person-centered, and equitable care. Scroll down to learn more about our approach and available resources.
Background
The Contraceptive Care Workforce is integral to advancing equitable contraceptive access. However, the capacity of this Workforce to provide high-quality, person- and community-centered contraceptive care remains stymied by several barriers, including staff shortages, provider burnout, payment and reimbursement barriers, inadequate implementation of person-centered care, and state and federal policy environments that obstruct access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
The Contraceptive Care Workforce includes a range of healthcare professionals who provide reproductive health and contraceptive care services, including physicians (e.g., obstetricians/gynecologists, family physicians, pediatricians, and adolescent medicine providers), advanced practice clinicians (e.g., nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse-midwives), nurses, pharmacists, midwives, doulas, medical assistants, health educators, and community health workers.
Approach
To generate key Contraceptive Care Workforce strategies, CECA led a yearlong effort that involved:
Conducting an environmental scan of adjacent areas where creative work has been done to advance the healthcare workforce.
Hosting Lived Experience Panels to infuse community voices as a source of expertise.
Convening an Expert Workgroup to identify needs and innovations and prioritize solutions.
These strategies advance our collective vision of a diverse and robust Contraceptive Care Workforce that is empowered to provide person-centered care to all and supported by equitable policies, programs, and systems committed to both worker and patient wellbeing.
Strategies to Expand Capacity of the Contraceptive Care Workforce:
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Examine and Diversify the Composition of the Workforce
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Enhance Contraceptive Training Education Within and Beyond the Workforce
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Expand the Role of Health Professionals in the Workforce
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Address the Context in which the Workforce Provides Care
Stakeholders
Each strategy is geared toward a wide audience, especially those who fund, develop, and implement policy, programming, training, and research related to the Contraceptive Care Workforce and the provision of high-quality contraceptive care. Each of these groups has a unique and critical role to play in advancing the Contraceptive Care Workforce:
Federal and state policymakers
Federal, state, and local health services agencies and departments
Professional health care and public health organizations
Health professions accreditation, licensing, and credentialing bodies
Health professions education and training programs
Health care systems and clinical facilities
Pharmaceutical companies
Payers in the health care industry (public and private)
Funders of workforce initiatives (public and private)
Research organizations and researchers
Community organizations, patient advocacy groups, and advocates
Recommendations and Resources
Strategies Report
The strategies outlined in this report are intended to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, person-centered care by the Contraceptive Care Workforce and advance sexual and reproductive health equity (SRHE) so that all people across the range of age, gender, race, and other intersectional identities, have what they need to attain their highest level of sexual and reproductive health.
Environmental Scan
To inform the development of the strategies, CECA conducted an environmental scan to summarize available evidence on innovative workforce strategies in areas adjacent to contraceptive care (e.g., primary care, behavioral health and substance use disorder care, and maternity care) and identify relevant strategies that might be adapted for the contraceptive care context.
Recommendations for Policymakers
Federal and state policymakers are central to implementing strategies to expand the capacity of the Contraceptive Care Workforce, particularly through their efforts to set priorities, authorize funding, adopt legislation and regulation, and provide oversight. This report offers actionable recommendations for how policymakers can help advance these strategies and improve contraceptive care for everyone who needs and wants it.