Reproductive Health

Project Description

The Harris County Reproductive Healthcare Access Fund (RHAF) provides funding to existing under-resourced health clinics and grassroots organizations to decrease the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI); improve the overall health of people of reproductive age; and increase clinical services within Harris County zip codes with the highest SVI and uninsured rates. The fund aims to expand services and improve reproductive healthcare access in priority zip codes, increase utilization, and build capacity for reproductive healthcare organizations to educate, promote, and connect the community to reproductive healthcare services. This funding opportunity specifically targets entities at the local level to build on existing expertise and create sustainable operational improvements. The Harris County service area will also increase reproductive healthcare access by including service provision to uninsured residents at new clinics or mobile units.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The RHAF's community engagement strategy leverages partnerships with local clinics, community-based organizations, and trusted community leaders to ensure targeted outreach to underserved and uninsured populations in Harris County. The engagement approach is data-driven, focusing on zip codes with the highest Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and uninsured rates, ensuring resources are directed to areas of greatest need. These strategies aim to increase awareness, promote service utilization, and ultimately improve reproductive health outcomes across Harris County:

  • Outreach and education campaigns will be hosted through community events, canvassing efforts, and mobile health units to provide direct education, distribute reproductive health materials, and connect residents to available services. These efforts leverage existing networks in schools, housing centers, and healthcare facilities.
  • Community-centered, culturally appropriate communication will be provided through various channels, ensuring that the messages resonate with the diverse populations served, including Black, Hispanic, refugee, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups.
  • Social media campaigns, billboard advertising, and radio commercials will play a crucial role in raising awareness about reproductive healthcare services and driving community members to access these services. These campaigns are strategically placed to target high-SVI areas and populations most in need.
  • Using localized data, the program and its partners prioritize high-SVI zip codes for reproductive health service promotion, expanding access to family planning methods, STI screenings, and preventive healthcare through mobile clinics and new healthcare partnerships

TARGET IMPACT

Target Goals Include:

  • Increase the number of patients seen for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), oral birth control, STI screenings, and/or referrals for other health concerns by 25%
  • Provide education and outreach to 20,000 county residents
  • Increase in awareness of knowledge and/or availability of reproductive healthcare services in communities

USE OF EVIDENCE & PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated healthcare shortages and precautions disrupted how individuals access reproductive healthcare, including birth control, annual exams, and family planning services. According to the Guttmacher Institute, one of the greatest barriers to people receiving the reproductive healthcare they need is cost. Many clinics are limited to reimbursable products and available services due to the fee-for- service standard amongst state and federal public reproductive healthcare service funding options. This is a systematic equity barrier for clinics and residents unable to provide and receive care within their neighborhood, ultimately contributing to the increasing SVI in communities across Harris County. Accessible reproductive healthcare is essential to the long-term vitality and health of communities.