MCC’s Community Reproductive Health Program; A Look Back Over the First Year
Last year, Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to establish a Community Reproductive Health program. Using this grant, MCC has broadened its scope of services to include reproductive healthcare access and expanded ongoing work into two new counties, Chester and Berks Counties.
We are excited to look back at some of what we have accomplished and share some key highlights.
MCC began a subcontract with AccessMatters and Maternal and Family Health Services to provide access to clinical support and services. Through this partnership, we offer referrals to family planning services for all pregnancy options, contraception, gynecological care, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, HIV prevention and care, pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services, and breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.
MCC’s Community Engagement Services team has been busy out in the community at over 200 events. The team were able to give away thousands of basic needs items including children’s books, formula, diapers and wipes, sexual health kits, menstrual health supplies; and shared resources and information about all MCC’s services.
The Community Reproductive Health Navigation Program is up and running! This program provides care coordination and systems navigation support, ensuring access to reproductive health care services, education, and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals, and for women throughout their lifespan. MCC spent the first half of the year staffing and establishing the program and we have already enrolled over 40 people.
Empower Your Choices provides trauma-informed education to adolescents and young adults, promoting healthy decision-making and sexual health choices. It provides youth with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent risk-taking sexual behaviors, reduce the incidence of pregnancy, HIV, and STIs, and connect them to resources and services. Over the last year, MCC has conducted 41 groups with over 1,000 enrollees, ages 12-18.
Throughout the last year, we continued to reach even more families and connect them to our existing services, like our parenting groups.
“When I had the opportunity to join the parenting group, I was so excited. Connecting with other parents—who weren’t just surviving but thriving while raising amazing kids— was incredibly comforting.
The facilitator provided valuable, relevant information that my whole household could use every day. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the power of words and positive affirmations—you truly can change the world.
This group gave me a safe space to share my experiences, and sometimes even to cry. Life is tough, and parenting can make us feel a million different emotions. This group was there to understand, educate, and provide a space to embrace all the ups and downs of everyday life.”
-Parenting group member
This is only a snapshot of the impact that MCC has been able to have across our expanded service area and with the newly established Community Reproductive Health program. We look to the future, knowing that we will only continue to grow our impact and serve more families and individuals.
