2016 has been an incredible year for Upstream USA. We have now brought our innovative program to healthcare practices in six states, partnering with them to offer the full range of contraceptive methods to all women. Since we engaged our first clinic in late 2014, we have delivered our training and technical assistance to health centers that cumulatively serve over 150,000 women each year. We are now poised to grow substantially in the year ahead, working in new states and with more health centers across the country.
All About Women, OB/GYN practice in Newark, Delaware following their Upstream USA training.
Below is a summary of some of our key milestones this year:
- Delaware Statewide Initiative: Beginning with Governor Jack Markell’s announcement in his 2016 State of the State Address, we launched our first statewide contraceptive access initiative. The goal is to transform Delaware’s entire public and private healthcare infrastructure, so that all women of reproductive age can access the full range of contraceptive methods, including IUDs and implants, the same day as requested, through any door of the health care system. Since its inception, Upstream USA has trained more than 1,000 clinicians and support staff across 81 sites. The University of Maryland has started a rigorous evaluation that will measure reductions in unplanned pregnancy and abortion rates, along with expected improvements in birth outcomes and savings to state agencies.
- Puerto Rico: In partnership with the CDC Foundation and the Office of Population Affairs, we provided two contraceptive access trainings in Puerto Rico as part of emergency response efforts to the Zika virus, where nearly 65% of pregnancies are unplanned and a quarter of the island’s residents are expected to contract Zika. Our bilingual trainings included over 120 clinicians and support staff from 55 unique health centers.
Upstream USA trainer Lauren Rios presenting at one of our Puerto Rico trainings.
- Public recognition of our work: Upstream USA was honored to be featured in media nationwide for our work this year, including Governor Markell’s New York Times op-ed, Vox, New York Magazine, TIME, and The Atlantic, among others.
- Beyond Delaware: We are pleased to share with you a short video highlight of our work with Family Health Center of Worcester in Massachusetts:
Just two-and-a-half years since our founding, we are more committed than ever to improving access to all methods of contraception for all women. We look forward to sharing our journey with you as we continue this important mission.
