What Is The Iowa Initiative?
The Iowa Initiative is a program that aims to reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancies among Iowa women ages 18-30 through networking, research and public outreach. We are traveling the state to open dialog and make this a mainstream, main street conversation. And, by collaborating with established providers around the state, we will increase access to family planning services and information. Headed by Iowa’s former First Lady Christie Vilsack, the Iowa Initiative will serve as a model to prevent unintended pregnancies nationwide.
The Iowa Initiative Research Program, conducted in conjunction with the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham, includes five studies designed to increase knowledge, persuade adult women to seek and access contraception if they wish to delay or prevent pregnancy, and improve contraceptive behaviors.
How Can You Help Us?
Currently, Iowa ranks 39th in funding for family planning. This has left tens of thousands of women without access to birth control services. Turning this situation around may seem daunting, but we can do it if we all work together. You can help by looking for opportunities for speaking engagements to groups in your community. And if your calendar won’t allow you to do all of them, forward the opportunities to us and we’ll help cover that event. The important thing is for all of us to raise awareness of the high cost of unintended pregnancies. And to communicate that prevention saves millions of taxpayer dollars and gives young women control over their lives.
How Can We Help You?
We want to help family planning service providers for a simple reason: we believe you are the solution. If we can collaborate with you to improve access to your services, we can reduce unintended pregnancies by empowering women and their partners to get pregnant only when they’re ready. We’re also bringing national speakers to the state to educate the public and elevate awareness of the issue of unintended pregnancy. We strive to make this program the model for the rest of the nation.