Oral

This session will be forum for discussion of health reform efforts and the important stake that women have in achieving quality, affordable health care for all. It will build from the foundation of three presentations about the work that Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need (RWV) is doing to engage a broad array of women's health advocates in local, state and national health reform discussions. The first presentation will focus on the RWV speak out initiative and its value as a tool for giving voice to those who experience the impact of health disparities, particularly in communities of color, and for promoting public policies that will create healthy communities of color. The second presentation will report on the work of women’s health advocates in New York who developed and tested strategies for effective participation in a progressive state health reform coalition, drawing on this experience to offer lessons that may be used by advocates in other states. And finally, the third presentation will explore the strategies that RWV is using to advocate for health care reform that ensures all women have access to a full range of reproductive and women’s health services, including maternity care, pre- and post-natal care, contraception, abortion, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and fertility treatment.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe how women's health advocates are organizing in support of health care reform to ensure quality, affordable health care for all; 2. Discuss the specific needs within health care reform of those who experience the impact health disparities, particularly communities of color; 3. Describe lessons learned from the participation of women's health advocates in the Health Care for All New York coalition; and 4. Discuss the strategies that women's health advocates are using to work for health care reform that ensures all women have access to a full range of reproductive and women’s health services.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)