Clementine - Planned Parenthood

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EDUCATION non-traditional sex education A 40-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME SAT in Health Educator Lisa Schulze’s office crying. “My sister has a husband, why can’t I have somebody to love?” She is one of dozens of clients with developmental disabilities Lisa educates. The woman had been isolated her entire life by her family; they were afraid she would be taken advantage of by someone if she ever dated or became intimate with a partner. “Once her parents died, she found herself in a new social atmosphere, but her friends were still fearful of what could happen if she dated,” Lisa said. “With our help, they see that education can be useful and they realize true intimacy in their life. It’s their right.” Lisa recently organized workshops for about 75 professionals in the Lincoln area and 22 parents. The relationships that she’s building is establishing Planned Parenthood of the Heartland as an expert in the field of sexuality and developmental disabilities. Now health-care providers refer their clients and caretakers to Lisa for education and support. “People with disabilities often have their sexual needs overlooked and ignored. This is about intimacy, boundaries, and their bodies as we support their growth in living to their fullest potential,” she said. “Just like anyone else, they’re sexual beings.” PP Heartland is working with local supporters including the Cooper Foundation in Lincoln to continue to expand the developmental disabilities services. GETTING TO KNOW... ryan sallans, health educator WHY HE’S AN EDUCATOR When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a teacher. In college, I did peer education, and now I never want to stop. RECENT PROGRAMS TAUGHT Breaking Health Care Barriers In The Transgender Community; LGBT for Professionals; How Students Come Out and How Schools Are Barriers To Their Learning. ON THE HORIZON Program on sexuality and eating disorders, working with a new coalition, Professional Transgender Resource Network, to educate public on issues surrounding transgender health care. 2 PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND Sallans talks to students at District 66 in Omaha about LGBT issues and the coming out process. This was the first year the district allowed PP Heartland to teach about sexual orientation in its curriculum.
ADVOCACY PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND building relationships, creating change PP Heartland Public Affairs Officer Julie Stauch meets with Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and his staff in Washington, D.C. BRIDGING TWO STATES with dramatically different systems of government is a challenge the Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Public Affairs division is well prepared to meet. The Public Affairs division knows it’s all about relationships. The creation of a state fund for family planning assistance in Iowa was possible because of the relationships PP Heartland fostered between constituents and their elected officials. Strengthening our supporter base and network of partnerships in Iowa is essential to protect and expand services. Nebraska is currently ranked 51st in the nation for contraceptive access, funding, and policy. Returning to fundamentals is the first step in improving the situation for women and families in Nebraska. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is forging new relationships with organizations, supporters, and elected officials. The goal is to strengthen and increase the public voice of our clients and improve the environment in both states for family planning and women’s health care. GROWING SUPPORT As part of a progressive coalition in Nebraska, the Healthy Families project has been going door-todoor to identify new supporters and survey their opinions on health-care reform, immigration policy, stem cell research, and abortion policies. The effort is part of building relationships with new supporters in Nebraska. So far, Healthy Families project canvassers have visited over 19,000 homes in Omaha. Results have been surprising, with over 78 percent supporting health-care reform. When it comes to people’s views on abortion, only 8 percent believe abortion should be illegal. The results of the canvass will not only recruit new supporters, but give insight into strategies for other progressive issues in Nebraska. STRENGTHENING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS The most-read section of a newspaper is usually the opinion page. Editorials, letters, and guest opinion pieces help guide and shape the public debate. Personal stories from real people can make all the difference. That’s why PP Heartland created the Rapid Response Program, to ensure that women’s health care is positively represented in Iowa and Nebraska opinion pages. By year’s end, PP Heartland will have placed about 200 letters to the editor throughout the states. With a publish rate of 47 percent, our issues are getting noticed. You can join the Rapid Response team: e-mail us at action@ppheartland.org for more information. THE SOURCE fall 2009 3
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