To Guide Whole-of-Government Response to Dobbs Decision, Reproductive Equity Now Launches Toolkit for Municipalities to Expand Access to Reproductive Health Care

Recommendations for action build off municipal leaders’ commitments in 2021 City Champion Pledge

BOSTON (November 16, 2022) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade this June created a national health care crisis that requires a whole-of-government response, from Congress to state houses to city halls. To guide municipal action to protect and expand reproductive health care, Reproductive Equity Now today launched its Win & Deliver Toolkit, a portfolio of resources to support Reproductive Equity Now City Champions and municipal officials in taking action to advance reproductive equity in their communities. 

The policy recommendations outlined in the Win & Deliver Toolkit build off Reproductive Equity Now’s 2021 City Champion Pledge, a policy pledge that over 70 city council and mayoral candidates took to show their commitment to protecting everyone’s right to access the full range of reproductive health options, including abortion. The toolkit, which includes policy proposals, draft ordinances and resolutions, and supporting materials, will serve as a starting point for municipal leaders looking to move the needle forward on reproductive equity policies.

Read the full Win & Deliver Toolkit HERE.

“This unprecedented health care crisis demands an unwavering, whole-of-government response from Congress to state houses to city halls across the country. As health care and reproductive freedom are under attack nationally, municipal leaders can play an enormous role in expanding access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “Our goal in launching the Win & Deliver Toolkit is to give city and town leaders the tools, resources, and information they need to pass bold policies to improve access to care for each of their residents. Whether they take action to launch public awareness campaigns about where to access legitimate abortion providers, expand municipal paid leave, or allocate funding to support abortion funds, our recommendations can help support families, advance reproductive equity, and improve access to care in all 351 cities and towns across the state.”

The Win & Deliver Toolkit offers a number of policy recommendations to expand access to care in cities across Massachusetts:

1. Support medication abortion access in your community. Municipal leaders can organize a public awareness campaign about how to access medication abortion and encourage private higher education institutions in their city to expand access to medication abortion for their students.

2. Appropriate municipal funding to the nearest abortion fund. Abortion funds are the grassroots, community-based organizations with decades of experience filling systemic gaps in health care coverage and helping put affordable abortion care within reach. Massachusetts has four abortion funds.

3. Prohibit municipal involvement in hostile out-of-state litigation against providers. Salem, Massachusetts took action to prohibit city employees, contractors, and any recipient of municipal funds from providing information or assisting in any out-of-state investigation related to what constitutes legally protected health care in our Commonwealth. Other municipalities can follow Salem’s lead by introducing a similar ordinance. 

4. Take steps to support the statewide emergency contraceptive standing order. The state legislature recently took steps to direct the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue a statewide standing order for emergency contraception, making both over-the-counter and prescription emergency contraception available at pharmacy counters and covered through insurance at the point of sale. Municipalities can now take action to support implementation efforts by launching public awareness campaigns, hosting public awareness events to ensure residents understand what a standing order is and how it affects them, and auditing pharmacies within municipal borders to ensure compliance.  

5. Implement municipal vending machines for emergency contraception. The state legislature recently updated state statute to allow over-the-counter emergency contraception to be sold in vending machines. Municipalities can take action by allocating money for emergency contraception vending machines in appropriate public venues.

6. Raise awareness and educate residents about the dangers of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). Cities like Easthampton, Massachusetts are taking initiative to call out the deceptive practices of crisis pregnancy centers and educate residents on how to report negative experiences to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Other municipalities can follow suit.

7. Launch a multilingual public awareness campaign on the state of abortion access. Barriers to care—including language barriers, exorbitant costs, complicated insurance coverage, and stretched providers—still exist, especially for low-income communities, communities of color, and immigrant communities.

8. Host a public forum on maternal health in your community. Invite local doulas, midwives, abortion providers, and residents to provide insight into their experiences and ideas for improving access to care.

9. Expand municipal paid leave. Municipalities can support municipal workers—our teachers, fire fighters, public health workers, and more—with paid leave, whether by opting in to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, or adopting an expanded paid leave that covers leave for pregnancy loss.

10. Amend municipality charter or bylaws to use gender inclusive language. Municipal leaders can promote inclusivity and welcome every resident by removing gendered language from municipal bylaws, charters, and other official municipal documents.

11. Support affordable and equitable access to child care. Cities across Massachusetts can take action by organizing to support state legislation like the Common Start bill, and can follow the lead of cities like Somerville by investing directly in child care assistance.

12. Fund free menstrual products in public restrooms. Municipal leaders can provide menstrual products free of charge—in schools, libraries, and other public buildings—making them a public good and eliminating stigma around menstruation.

###