Focus Area 3
Improve and enhance infrastructure for contraceptive care, including systems, facilities, resources, and workforce/people
Context
Since 2022, the CECA has brought together evidence and diverse stakeholders to understand the impact of shifts in the sexual and reproductive health landscape, foster strategic collaboration, and improve contraceptive access and sexual and reproductive health equity (SRHE) more broadly.
The resulting Strategy to Preserve and Expand Contraceptive Access features five focus areas that detail what we aim to achieve and communicate where people should direct their work, recommended actions to prioritize and move forward now, and examples of work completed or underway.
Recommended Actions to Improve and Enhance Infrastructure for Contraceptive Care
Bolster structural and regulatory supports to expand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) infrastructure, including workforce capacity. This includes adequately funding SRH providers, reforming scope of practice regulations, integrating allied health professionals, and instituting effective training approaches and reimbursement strategies.
Understand and interpret the law and how it applies to practice accurately. Since Dobbs, lawyers, providers, and the public have faced confusion about what the law requires, often exceeding the requirements of the law and reacting more conservatively than needed or “pre-complying.” A report from the National Women’s Law Center lists examples. Institutions and individuals should understand how the law applies in their setting and aim to protect care.
Undertake and expand innovative solutions to delivering contraceptive care, including leveraging technology and expanding community-based models and community points of access.