A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION CHATTANOOGA INC
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : m*****y@a*******************a.o*g
Mission Statement
A Step Ahead Chattanooga (ASAC) envisions a world where women become pregnant on their own terms, allowing them, their families, and communities to thrive. Our mission is to remove barriers to contraception through education, outreach, and access to free birth control. ASAC enables women to time their pregnancies for if/when they feel socially, emotionally, and financially ready.
About This Cause
ASAC works to remove the barriers of knowledge, cost, enabling women to decide for themselves if and when they want to become pregnant. We believe that everyone has a right to knowledge about how their bodies work and that when individuals have access to accurate information and access to contraception, they are better equipped to make the decisions that are right for them and their family. We also believe that health services should be provided free of judgment in a caring, respectful, and safe manner; and that every individual should be able to select the birth control method that is best for them. Our programs center around the three components of our mission: education, outreach, and access to free birth control. A Step Ahead Chattanooga (ASAC) provides education about reproductive health and all methods of birth control so that women can decide which contraceptive method is right for them. We also provide education to medical providers to ensure that they are trained on proper device insertion and best practices. Education is offered in a variety of formats, including in-person sessions, pre-recorded videos, and live webinars. Our staff engages in outreach efforts throughout our service area both with the general public and with other agencies to ensure that anyone who might benefit from our services is aware of what we do. Additionally, we provide direct clinical services by partnering with area medical providers to provide contraceptives – specifically the implant and IUD – for FREE. When a client learns about ASAC, they can call our appointment line where a trained volunteer will conduct intake and connect them directly with one of our provider partners to set up an appointment. ASAC pays for all services related to accessing long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) including the birth control itself, the office visit, Pap smear, pregnancy and STI testing if needed, and even transportation to and from appointments. We cover any costs not covered by other means (such as insurance). In late 2021, ASAC began partnering with a telehealth provider to also cover birth control pills which are mailed directly to clients, as we work towards expanding to offer all preventative options of contraception. In the case that a client chooses a method not covered by ASAC, we still pay for their consultation and refer them to other resources to ensure that they can receive the birth control that is best for them for free or at a reduced cost. We also provide transportation support to and from appointments. Unintended pregnancies negatively impact everything from economic stability, educational attainment, and social stability to the psychological and physical well-being of mothers and children. The first line of defense in stopping unintended pregnancies is providing women of child-bearing age with education and options for effective, reversible contraception. The barriers of knowledge, cost, and access can be significant. Removing these barriers allows women to live life on their terms, enabling them to decide if and when they want to become pregnant, so that they can focus on whatever goals they set for themselves, whether those goals include furthering their careers, advancing their education, or taking care of the family they already have. Though we provide our services to any woman in our service area who needs them, the majority of our clients are facing significant barriers. Removing these barriers and the possibility of an unintended pregnancy allows women to plan their own futures with autonomy.