Maternal and Child Health: Reproductive Health and Family Planning

To understand your rights, view:

• Know Your Rights: Reproductive Health Care—Find up-to-date details about access and coverage of reproductive health care and resources. These come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Reproductive health care includes access to birth control and safe and legal abortion care.
• Abortion Laws by State—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—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—Get affordable health care.

All services through Title X and Planned Parenthood 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.
• Text 608-360-9328.
• Call 800-642-7837.

• Title X Service Grants—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—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)—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—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—These are required training videos for Title X providers and staff.
• Family Planning ForwardHealth Portal Training Webinar—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—Connect to social, health, and government programs in your community.
• DHSRHFP@dhs.wisconsin.gov – Email the RHFP program for more information.

For patient referrals, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has a way to search for care.

For patient education materials, view:

• Abortion fact sheet from the World Health Organization
• Abortion with Septic Shock
• FAQ: Safe Abortion Care

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

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

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 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.