Maternal and Child Health: Reproductive Health and Family Planning

To understand your rights, view laws by state (opens external link)—Learn about reproductive laws currently in place in Wisconsin and other states. Information comes from the Center for Reproductive Rights.

If you are pregnant, you should see a health care provider regularly. Don’t delay getting care if:

• You have life-threatening complications of pregnancy, such as:
  • Ectopic pregnancy.
  • Incomplete miscarriage.
  • Incomplete placental delivery.
• You or someone you know tries to end a pregnancy outside of the health care system and suffers complications. Get care right away if this results in infection, prolonged bleeding, or other issues. Note that health care providers must keep what you share with them confidential.
• You have feelings of anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns. Talk to a provider you trust or call 211 for support.
• You have thoughts of suicide or feel you are in danger. Call 911. There are also crisis lines you can contact by phone or text.

Your primary health care provider or a health clinic may be able to help with:

• Birth control.
• Emergency contraception.
• Intimate partner safety.
• Pregnancy testing and counseling.
• Preventive and primary care services.
• Referrals for follow-up or special care.
• Sexually transmitted disease screening and treatment.

If you don’t already have a provider, these resources can help:

• Title X Clinic Finder (opens external link)—Use the search tool to find a family planning clinic near you. Call a clinic to ask about their hours and specific services.
• Planned Parenthood (opens external link)—Get affordable health care.

All services through Title X are your choice and are private. You can also get them no matter your health insurance status. No one is turned away if they can’t pay. Staff work with you to make sure the services you get are covered. Some people qualify for benefits to help pay for the visit through the Family Planning Only Services Medicaid benefit.

For general questions about health care services in Wisconsin, either:

• Visit the Well Badger Resource Center (opens external link).
• Text 608-360-9328.
• Call 800-642-7837.

• Title X Service Grants (opens external link)—Learn about the federal Title X program. It’s administered through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs.
• 2021 Title X Final Rule (opens external link)—Learn about the updated rule for all Title X family planning programs. The final rule went into effect on Nov. 8, 2021.
• Providing Quality Family Planning Services: Recommendation of CDC and the U.S. Office of Population Affairs (PDF) (opens external link)—Find clinical guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the Office of Population Affairs. It’s the foundation of Wisconsin’s RHFP program services.
• Welcome to the Reproductive Health National Training Center (opens external link)—Access resources that ensure Title X staff have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to give high-quality services and programs.

Training

• Mandatory Title X Training (opens external video)—These are required training videos for Title X providers and staff.
• Family Planning ForwardHealth Portal Training Webinar (opens external video)—This video will demonstrates how Title X providers and staff access the ForwardHealth Portal for basic navigation, claims submissions, and trainings.

Resources

• Well Badger Resource Center for Professionals & Partners (opens external link)—Connect to social, health, and government programs in your community.
• DHSRHFP@dhs.wisconsin.gov (opens external email) – Email the RHFP program for more information.

For patient referrals, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (opens external link) has a way to search for care.

For patient education materials, view:

• Abortion fact sheet from the World Health Organization (opens external link)
• Abortion with Septic Shock (opens external link)
• FAQ: Safe Abortion Care (opens external link)

For scientific articles on the effects and treatment of unsafe abortions, view:

• The Back Alley Revisited: Sepsis After Attempted Self-Induced Abortion (opens external link)
• Complications of Unsafe and Self-Managed Abortions (opens external link)
• Unsafe Abortion: The Missing Link in Global Efforts to Improve Maternal Health (PDF) (opens external link)
• Unsafe Abortion: The Silent Scourge (opens external link)
• Unsafe Abortion: Unnecessary Maternal Mortality (PDF) (opens external link)

As a health care provider, it’s important to take care of your own mental health. Here are some helpful strategies:

• Watch for signs of burnout and stress—Look out for anything from poor hygiene, depression, irritability, and fatigue to more serious signs. These might include constant worry, startling easily, or frequent nightmares.
• Make time to unwind—Take time every day to do things you enjoy.
• Get support from team members—Set up a buddy system for staff to share concerns, talk about stress, and watch over each other’s safety and well-being.
• Ask for help when you need it—Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or your county crisis line (opens external link) if you feel like you want to hurt yourself or others. You can also text HOPELINE to 741741.
• Find healthy ways to cope with stress—Take breaks from work, eat healthy foods, exercise, and socialize with friends and family. Do not use drugs and alcohol as a way to cope.
• Limit news and social media time—Take phone and computer breaks. Repeated reports and posts about traumatic events can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body—Eat healthy, do some type of regular movement, and get enough sleep.

Learn more through Resilient Wisconsin.