Maternal & Child Health Blog

Celebrating 20 Years with the Family Medical Leave Act

As first-time parents, my husband and I have been trying to navigate the unfamiliar and exciting landscape that our soon-to-arrive baby boy has us pondering, including what kind of car seat to purchase, what we plan to call him, and how we will handle long-term child care needs.

Luckily, one thing that we don’t have to worry about is how quickly we’ll have to return to work or whether we’ll have a job when we return, which is something that too many parents and caregivers have to consider with the birth or adoption of a child.

Even as a small nonprofit, IMCHC will provide me with six weeks of paid maternity leave; my husband’s employer doesn’t provide paternity leave, but he plans to use his paid time off to spend time with me and the baby in the first few weeks. He also has access to the Federal Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if necessary.

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of FMLA, which entitles employees working at qualified employers to take up to 12-weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period to:

• Care for a newborn or newly adopted child; or
• Care for a seriously ill child, spouse, or parent; or
• Recover from his/her own illness.

Employers must provide FMLA if they employ at least 50 employees and if the employee has worked at least one year for at least 1,250 hours in the last 12 month period. Public entities, including schools, local, state, and federal agencies must also offer FMLA.

FMLA provides unpaid leave, but the employer must maintain the same benefits coverage to the employee during the period he/she is on leave. Eligible workers can receive up to 26 weeks in a 12-month period to care for a related or next-of-kin wounded service member.

FMLA remains the first and only national law that provides millions of employees with the opportunity to balance their work and personal lives. Some states have adopted their own laws that offer additional protections for working families, which are outlined in a May 2012 report published by the National Partnership for Women and Families. Two states, California and New Jersey, have established employee-funded systems to allow workers to access a portion of their salary while on leave. 

While the FMLA has provided millions of workers with a sense of job security, many workers can’t afford to take unpaid leave. The United States remains the only high-income nation that does not have paid parental leave. In fact, according to Working Mother magazine, most low- and middle-income countries also offer this benefit to their residents.

 

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/05/24/489973/paid-maternity-leave-us/?mobile=nc

 

Studies have shown that paid leave can help workers better adjust to the new demands of parenthood, including breastfeeding and parent-child bonding. Private-sector employers have been offering various forms of paid leave to new parents, along with flexible work schedules, as they have found that these policies result in a more productive workforce.

So, as we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of FMLA, we should also be working towards a universal policy that puts in place paid parental leave that allows working parents to better balance the demands of employment and family life. Our partners at the National Partnership for Women and Families and MomsRising have more information about you can get involved with these issues on their websites.   

Kathy Chan is IMCHC’s Associate Director and Director of Policy and Advocacy. She and her husband Eric are expecting their first child at the end of May. Contact her at kchan@ilmaternal.org

Spread knowledge, not the flu!

My freshmen year in college I got the flu while I was on winter break. Yes, even a healthy, invincible 18 year old can get sick for a week with the flu. Having the flu was like a truck had run over me and then reversed and run over me again. I had to be quarantined from my mother, who is elderly and has several medical conditions. I vowed to get the flu vaccine every year after that, in order to protect myself and those around me.

The flu is not just a bad cold but a deadly disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois is among the top 24 states hit hardest by the flu. As of January 5, 27 people have died from influenza in Illinois. Recently, New York and Boston have declared public health emergencies to combat the flu.

Fever, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue are not just symptoms of a cold, but of the flu. It can be difficult to tell the difference. In general, the flu is worse than a cold, and the symptoms are more intense.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year. Vaccination is safe and the best way to help prevent influenza. Flu spreads through the air from person to person or by touching something contaminated with the flu virus and then touching your mouth, eyes, or nose.

You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine, since the flu vaccine doesn’t contain a live virus. Side effects may occur in some people, such as mild soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, or a low-grade fever. There is an alternative for people afraid of needles. Healthy people between 2 to 49 years old may get the nasal spray. We must fear the disease, not the vaccine.

People at high risk include young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Pregnant women in any trimester can receive the flu shot.  The flu shot can protect mom and baby during pregnancy and even protect the baby up to six months old. Breastfeeding is important to help keep the baby healthy during flu season. The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk help protect babies from illness.

It’s not too late to get vaccinated!  To get your flu vaccine, contact your health care provider, retail pharmacy, or local health department. Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act is making it a little easier to pay for required immunizations. The Affordable Care Act requires that new and non-grandfathered, private insurance plans cover recommended immunizations given by in-network providers without cost sharing. You can learn more about health reform and immunizations here.

Remember to take every day precautions to take care of your health. Wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes. Do your part to protect yourself and your community, and get vaccinated.

For immunization resources, contact the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign at caic@ilmaternal.org.

This post was written by Melissa Ponce, Senior Project Coordinator for the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, a project of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. Melissa is a proud mom of a fully immunized three year old son and fully immunized dog. 

Breastfeeding Rights in Illinois

In July, IMCHC’s Sheila Sanders blogged about her own experiences with breastfeeding and the exciting new provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on breastfeeding. I would like to bring to your attention, some additional (and equally exciting) legislation on breastfeeding in Illinois. This first post will focus on HB 4968, which was passed by the Illinois legislature and signed into law by Governor Quinn this past spring. Be sure to look for the 2nd post of this breastfeeding series, which will focus on nursing mothers’ rights in the work place.

Better known as the Illinois Hospital-Infant Feeding Policy, effective January 1, 2013, HB 4968 requires birthing hospitals to adopt an infant feeding policy that promotes breastfeeding based off the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative of the World Health Organization and the United Nation’s Children’s Fund. In addition, it requires that the newly adopted policy be routinely communicated to staff and posted in conspicuous places as well as online.

This new policy is in direct response to low breastfeeding rates in Illinois, a trend that is mirrored all over the United States. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and then continue to be breastfed up to his/her first birthday. In Illinois, less than 50% of children are still breastfed at all at 6 months of age and only 13.6% of children are exclusively breastfed through that time.

The benefits of breastfeeding are well documented. Breastfeeding offers significant benefits for both mother and child, so why aren’t more mothers doing it? A qualitative study conducted by HealthConnect One found that negative perceptions of breastfeeding, a general lack of support, and gaps on breastfeeding education all contributed to mothers’ reluctance to breastfeed. While the ACA does address some of these concerns by covering lactation support services and the cost of renting breastfeeding equipment, it requires mothers to actively seek out these services.

The Hospital-Infant Feeding Policy requires the delivery of information and support straight to new mothers, starting when they give birth. While this new policy will not prohibit mothers from choosing to use formula, it will encourage mothers to breastfeed and provide much needed support for new mothers who are interested in breastfeeding but need some extra guidance.

We recognize that breastfeeding support in birthing hospitals is only a first step and that promoting and creating community-based supports that help women after they leave the hospital is also important. Additional resources for mothers interested in breastfeeding can be found on the websites of the Le Leche League of Illinois and  Illinois State Breastfeeding Taskforce.

What are your opinions on this policy? Do you have suggestions for other ways that we can support breastfeeding? Let us know at ilmaternal@ilmaternal.org.

 

 

This post was written by Heather Ma, a former IMCHC policy intern and a current undergraduate student at Northwestern University. 

Making Sense of Essential Health Benefits

If I had been asked two months ago about Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) and how they should be covered in Illinois’ benchmark plan, my response would have been a confused blank stare. I didn’t know what EHBs were and why anyone cared how they would be covered. Nonetheless, here I am today with more knowledge on the subject than I ever thought I could grasp and an understanding of the importance of sharing this knowledge with others.

What are EHBs and why should you care? Well, starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act requires all new insurance plans sold inside and outside of the Health Insurance Exchange to cover ten categories of EHBs. These categories include:

• Ambulatory patient services
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance abuse services,
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

 

So gone are the days when your insurance only covered you if you were hit by a bus yet still charged you a fortune for the coverage anyways.

Each state is required to choose a “benchmark plan”, from a list of ten plans currently offered in their state that represents a typical employer plan that includes coverage of the EHBs. If a plan does not include coverage for one or more of the EHBs, they must supplement from another plan or available option. Illinois has submitted their choice of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Advantage plan, to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for approval. HHS is expected to hold a public comment period soon, where consumers, organizations and other interested parties can discuss Illinois’ Benchmark decision. 

While the EHB categories appear to be comprehensive, it is important for consumer health advocates to ensure that the benchmark plan includes a rich package of services. The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition recently submitted comments outlining the services we believe are important for women and children.

There are certain EHBs which clearly cover services specific to women and children’s health such as maternity and newborn care, but it is important to ensure that all necessary services within these categories are included, such as coverage of state licensed midwives as a delivery option.  Advocates must also pay attention to services in the EHBs, which at first glance may not seem women-specific, but where inadequate coverage could have a disproportionate affect on women.

For instance, an estimated 10 million women across the US suffer from eating disorders, and eating disorders have the highest premature fatality rate of any mental illness. Thus, it is important to ensure eating disorders are included as a serious mental illness and that proper treatment is available.

In regards to children, the areas which are most often lacking in private insurance coverage are pediatric oral, vision, and habilitative services.

Families with special needs children often bear a large portion of the cost burden to provide their kids with proper speech, occupational and physical therapy; however, these same services are often covered if a child suffers an injury and needs rehabilitation. It is important that insurance plans cover habilitative services at least at parity with rehabilitative services.  Rehabilitative services are the services you would receive if you were in a car accident and lost the use of your legs, but if, for instance, you were born with cerebral palsy and had never had use of your legs, you would need habilitative services to help you learn to use them.

Yet, it is not enough to define what and how each of these services are covered, we need to make sure that the benchmark plan can be regularly evaluated and updated to guarantee that the provision of services which are necessary for the well-being of women and children are kept up to date. States’ benchmark selections are applicable in 2014 and 2015, so advocates will have a chance to evaluate and make changes for plan year starting 2016.

Finally, we must ensure that the new benchmark plan bans all forms of discrimination against race, sex, ethnicity and religion in all insurance plans. So now you see why it is important to understand EHBs, we have the opportunity to participate in an informed discussion about what insurance coverage should be and it is important that we all take this chance to make sure there is equal and full coverage for everyone.

Cassie Valukas is a graduate of the University of Iowa and an intern at the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. She is currently taking the pre-medicine requirements at Northwestern University, and hopes to continue pursuing her interests in maternal and child health and social justice issues. She can be reached at catherine.valukas@gmail.com.

America’s newest obstacle to health care

On the surface, the passage of the Affordable Care Act eliminates some of the biggest obstacles to obtaining quality health care. But an old roadblock to accessing care persists: a lack of education and awareness. A recent CNN article profiled Leslie Elder, who died fighting for health insurance even though she was eligible for a program created and available to her as a result of health reform. Why didn’t Elder enroll in a program that could have saved her life? She simply didn’t know it existed.

Elder lost her health insurance while battling cancer, and her family says she would be alive today if she had received coverage for subsequent cancer treatments. Elder and her family had no idea that she qualified for her state’s Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan* (PCIP), also known as a high-risk pool. Most PCIPs went into effect between August and October of 2010 and are meant to act as a temporary insurance program for people who had been denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition.

Elder and her family knew about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that will ban insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions starting in 2014, but they didn’t know that PCIPs could provide help NOW.

Elder’s story highlights a huge communication gap between health care consumers and life-saving health care policies, which need to be bridged if health reform reaches its full potential. Elder’s unfortunate and unnecessary death makes it clear that we can’t measure the success of health care reform simply by its passage. Reaching out to consumers and increasing awareness about these vital programs is critical to ensure Americans don’t miss out on health coverage.

In order for PCIPs, and all other provisions of the ACA to make a difference, it’s up to grassroots and community-based organizations to make information accessible and understandable.

Unfortunately, PCIP enrollment data shows that Elder may not be alone in believing she had no options. According to the Commonwealth Institute, the federal government expected that 375,000 people would enroll in PCIPs by the end of 2011, but records from June 2012 indicate that only 77,877 people have enrolled so far. In Illinois, only 2,717 people are enrolled in PCIPs.

While some attribute low enrollment rates to the cost of PCIP premiums and a requirement that enrollees cannot have insurance at least six months prior to enrollment, improved outreach is certainly a way to boost enrollment. Reports indicate that New York can attribute its high enrollment rates to pursuing a rigorous outreach campaign. HHS even lowered PCIP premiums in some states to encourage enrollment, but this only increased utilization rates by a small margin.

The ACA is 2,409 pages of information overload, so it’s easy for valuable information to fall through the cracks. That’s why grassroots organizations and health care providers should deliver straightforward information to consumers about how health reform can help them. Whether it’s fact sheets, health fairs, or ad campaigns, health advocates need to develop strategies for bringing health reform information to consumers.

More than 50 million Americans were uninsured in 2009, and 12 percent of Illinois residents are uninsured. It’s critical to reach out to these individuals now and in the next several years to help them understand their options for affordable coverage. We can’t allow awareness and education to be a barrier for people to obtain the quality care made available by the ACA.

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition offers presentations on the ACA for health providers, staff, and community members. Contact us for details on organizing a presentation. You can also check out our fact sheets, toolkit, and webinars on the ACA to learn more about your options. For more information about Illinois’ Pre-existing Condition Plan and to apply, visit the Illinois Department of Insurance’s website.

 

 

Breastfeeding Gets Easier with the Affordable Care Act

I am a proud breastfeeding mom and it gives me great joy to know that because of my choice to breastfeed, I gave my children the best possible start at life. Breast milk provides disease-fighting antibodies that can help protect infants from several types of illnesses and is easier for babies to digest than formula. Mothers who breastfeed also see health benefits, including a decreased risk of some health problems, such as breast and ovarian cancer. Most importantly, breastfeeding helps to deepen the bond between mother and child. 

That’s why I’m so excited that starting this Wednesday, new private insurance plans will be required to cover breastfeeding support (from a lactation counselor) and supplies (like rental of breast pumps) without a co-pay or deductible.  This requirement is because of the Affordable Care Act health insurance law.

Doing what was best for my children didn't come without sacrifice. As a mother of two, working full time and maintaining a home (with a dog) has made it difficult to continue breastfeeding. I've faced many struggles balancing a new baby with a demanding toddler, finding the right time and place to pump (even in a very supportive workplace), and just getting through the day with a serious case of mommy brain. WOW!  I am learning with my second child that you can never be too prepared when entering this chapter of life.

As many moms do, I internalized a lot of these struggles. I didn't want to seem inadequate or give off the impression that I couldn't do it. Then it clicked that I could talk to other breastfeeding moms. Learning that I wasn't the only one who has experienced these problems has made a tremendous difference. I tell every breastfeeding woman that I meet how important it is to build a network of support. I encourage them to reach out to friends, family members, and coworkers and not to be afraid of leaning on those people when needed. It can make all the difference when you have someone to watch the kids for an hour or two, help cook dinner, or just make a quick phone call to see how you are doing.

Another important resource is my lactation counselor. My counselor provides constant support and empathy, while suggesting solutions that I never could have come up with on my own. She is the one that encouraged me to build my own circle of support and she is the one that kept me going any time I felt like the burden was too great.

I have struggled as a breastfeeding mom, even with so much going for me; and, as someone who works in community outreach, I know that I am one of the lucky ones. So many moms want to do what is right for their child, but lack the financial or social resources to breastfeed successfully. Fortunately, there is a great new provision in the health care law that kicks in on August 1, which provides support for breastfeeding women by eliminating some of the financial barriers. Starting this Wednesday, new private insurance plans will be required to cover breastfeeding support (from a lactation counselor) and supplies (like rental of breast pumps) without a co-pay or deductible.  

The Affordable Care Act is changing the way that women access health care for the better, and the provisions taking effect on August 1 are a stunning example. By eliminating some of the barriers women face when breastfeeding, this law is supporting women and ensuring a healthy future for the next generation.

 

 **This blog was orginally posted on July 28 on the Countdown to Coverage blog. The original post is available here http://countdowntocoverage.org/whats-in-it-for-women/2012/7/28/breastfeeding-gets-easier-with-new-health-law.html

Sheila Sanders lives in Chicago with her two beautiful children, husband, and dog. She works for the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. Sheila can be reached by email at ssanders@ilmaternal.org. 

 

Women WIN with the ACA

Twelve years ago, 15% of U.S. women were uninsured. Scary, right? Brace yourself; it gets worse.

According to a report released by the Commonwealth Fund, 20% of women ages 19-64 were uninsured in 2010. And, that statistic includes 17% of women in Illinois. Overall, the number of uninsured women has increased by more than thirty percent.  

Compared to women in ten other industrialized countries, each with universal health insurance systems, the report finds that women in the U.S., whether we are insured or uninsured, are much more likely forego needed health care because of the cost. Our difficulty accessing affordable health care is clearly unique, given the comparison with other industrialized countries. The rising number of uninsured women over the past decade only heightens that problem.

 

Predictably, the report attributes our diminishing access to affordable health care to the ever-increasing cost of health care and health insurance.  Combined with the economic crisis, this has led to a decrease in employer-based coverage.

Unfortunately, we are also a generally vulnerable population when it comes to health insurance. There are several reasons for this:

• Thanks to a nasty insurance policy known as “gender rating,” we pay higher premiums than men simply because of our gender.
• We tend to consume more preventive care than men. Even though this arguably saves money in the long run by preventing costly pregnancies or sicknesses, it’s held against us.
• We can be denied health insurance, or have to pay higher premiums for insurance, because of a pre-existing condition, such as being pregnant or having had a C-section.
• We’re less likely to have insurance through work because we’re more likely to work at small businesses that don’t offer plans.
• If we are lucky enough to have employers that provide insurance, we can lose it if we decide  to leave our jobs to raise a family.
• We often lose coverage when we divorce a partner whose health insurance plan provided spousal coverage.
• We’re less likely to be able to afford the price of health care because of gender discrimination in the workplace or because we are unemployed.

Here comes the good news. The Commonwealth Fund report also predicted that the number of women without coverage is expected to drop to about 8% by 2014, largely because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

 

The ACA will help women by:

Protecting against Insurance Companies

Starting January 1, 2014, gender rating will be illegal, and insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to individuals because of a pre-existing condition (this provision is already in effect for children under the age of 19).

Annual and lifetime limits on care will be also eliminated by January 1, 2014, a provision that will be especially important if, for example, you give birth to a premature baby who will require a lifetime of expensive care.

Emphasizing Prevention

In a few days from now, on August 1, private insurance plans will be required to offer certain preventive health services without a co-pay or deductible. This free preventive care includes services like breast feeding supplies and support, STI testing and counseling, and, yes, birth control.

Making Care more Affordable

The ACA mandates that by January 1, 2014, almost all people have health insurance. To make sure this happens, the ACA contains provisions to expand Medicaid, provide tax credits to small businesses and individuals to help pay for private insurance, and to require states to create Health Insurance Exchanges. These Exchanges will be a one-stop comparison shop for health insurance plans where consumers can receive tax credits and find plans that are best suited to them with uniform, easy-to-understand language. It will be a lot like an Expedia for health insurance.

To see other ways the Affordable Care Act benefits women, visit the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition website and read our fact sheet about how women win with the ACA.

The ACA will help more women become insured and have access to affordable health care. There are several ways that you can ensure the ACA becomes a reality:

SPREAD THE WORD. Tell your friends and family why the Affordable Care Act is a win for women.

CONNECT with IMCHC – visit our website and sign up for our newsletter and action alerts or get involved with our committees.

CALL your legislators and tell them why the Affordable Care Act is important to you. Urge them to work on a consumer-friendly Exchange.

And, VOTE this November for politicians who support the Affordable Care Act.

 

By: Kerrigan Vanden Bos
Intern, Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition

Finding my Place in the MCH movement--Reflections on IMCHC's 2012 Annual Meeting

By Danielle Babbington

Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Maternal Child Health Coalition’s Annual Meeting in Chicago – my first! Attending meetings for the Chicago chapter and Campaign to Save Our Mothers and Babies has enhanced my awareness of other organizations within the maternal and child health circle and the information gained is immense. I recently joined the Associate Board and also agreed to be a chapter leader to get experience behind the scenes, learn how to positively impact the maternal population through various methods, and to expand my network. My involvement with IMCHC has been integral to my success in providing resources necessary to support the population I serve.

As a young professional working diligently to make a name for myself in the field of maternal and child health, the opportunity to network with more the 160 like-minded individuals across Illinois is invaluable. Surrounded by history makers, including the Loretta Lacey MCH Advocacy Awardees, was an incredible privilege. Actually speaking with members of this community that have a passion for improving the lives of families in Illinois was inspiring! Stories that floated around the table of various initiatives to improve outcomes from past to present gave me a better understanding of IMCHC’s reach.

After a delicious lunch, we were all treated to a keynote speech by Dr. Bechara Choucair, Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Earlier this year, with the full support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Dr. Choucair unveiled “Healthy Chicago”, the first city-wide comprehensive public health agenda. Dr. Choucair started his speech with a brief history of public health in Chicago. He provided one very powerful story of success. Between 1890 and 1900 the department was able to increase the percentage of children living past their 5th birthday from fifty to seventy five percent. They did this using carefully planned campaigns, engaging a strong workforce, and including the community.

Fast forward 100 years, the plan to improve the city’s health with these same methods has returned. Dr. Choucair explained that Healthy Chicago 2012 will implement campaigns to educate the population to take control of their health, develop a strong public health workforce, and engage traditional and non-traditional communities, including churches and community based organizations. One of the many important initiatives is the promotion of Baby Friendly Hospitals across the city. Baby Friendly hospitals provide a supportive environment that encourages breastfeeding among Chicago moms. Improving the openness and support of breast feeding in Chicago Hospitals is critical for the health of future Chicagoans.

I left IMCHC’s Annual Meeting with a renewed vigor for the work I do and the movement in which I participate. Healthy Chicago 2012 has renewed my faith in the city’s mission to improve the standard of living for all Chicago residents. Being a part of this process inspires me to push forward! Networking with stakeholders during different stages of their career, from varied organizations, and open to helping others succeed in their career is why I will continue to grow within the maternal and child health community.

 

Danielle Babbington is an Associate Board Member and Chapter Leader in Chicago. In her professional life she works with perinatal women, linking them to care that is supportive, openly communicative, and empowering. She also provides education on various pregnancy related conditions. Connecting her moms with community resources to improve quality of family life is a priority.

Reflections on a Lifetime of Public Health by Dr. Shirley Fleming

Over my 30 year career as a nurse, certified nurse-midwife, and public health professional, I have witnessed reductions in infant mortality spurred by policies that improved access to care and economic justice for the most vulnerable families. I was closely involved in advocating for changes in Medicaid, Kid Care, and social policies that would improve health outcomes and allow individuals the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their highest human potential.

However, I feel as though the progress that we fought so hard for is being ripped away and promoting access to care and the social determinants does not seem to be a priority for our legislators. Despite the immense prior success of Medicaid expansions, we are watching as eligibility and services are slashed. The public safety net is being devalued and diminished by legislators looking to close budget holes on the backs of hardworking families.

At the same time, federal health reform is on the horizon holding the promise of something better. The Affordable Care Act seeks to improve upon decades of advocacy efforts to increase access to care by making health care work for all of us. Good health is a key to basic human dignity.

My grandchildren suffer from severe allergies which means they are always at risk of a major health crisis and need consistent access to care. I am thankful that health reform has eliminated the possibility of them being discriminated against because of a so-called “pre-existing condition.”

I carry the narrative of justice as a public health person and a person of faith. Every person has the basic right to good health and opportunity to fulfill their purpose. Access to health care contributes to that and promoting care should be paramount for all public health professionals and people of good will. I hope that we as a people will have the courage and moral fortitude to move the arc of the universe toward justice in health care and the social determinants of health for all people.

Dr. Shirley Fleming is a grandmother, minister, and retired public health professional that believes the health care system should be driven by justice. Over her 30 year career, Ms. Fleming worked as a nurse, certified nurse-midwife, public health advocate, and the Chicago Department of Public Health First Deputy Commissioner.

Empowering the Next Generation Through Education

Being a youth peer educator has helped me a lot. It has educated me on sexual and reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, and diseases. The information I've learned has helped me to educate my friends on all the responsibility that comes with sex. The topics I’ve learned have also made me think twice on the choices that I make. I have been reminded of all the responsibility that comes with having intercourse and have reconsidered relationships based on what I learned. As a youth myself, this program has overall been very helpful to me.

I think the information that I’ve learned needs to be taught at school-- it would be very helpful to youth of this generation. We need to know how to protect ourselves and keep ourselves healthy. Also young women need to know how to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy and infections. From being a youth peer educator and talking with my friends, I know that this is the only way a lot of people will learn these things.

I have shared some of information that I learned about sexually transmitted infections with my friends. My friends were very surprised when I told them about herpes and the fact that you can’t get rid of it-- you can take medicine to keep it under control only. Teaching them something so important that they didn’t already know made me feel really good. I also told my friends that relationships can be very unhealthy and educated them on signs that they can watch for. This made them reconsider who they date and how they let people treat them.

My friends think the information that I share with them is very helpful and guides them when it comes to sex, relationships, and responsibility. I like knowing that I am making a difference in their lives because this is important information that every young person should have.

-Jasmine Cochran is a Youth Peer Educator working with the Campaign to Save Our Mothers and Babies in Englewood.