Advocacy

A conversation between one of our volunteers and a healthcare provider

We are deeply committed to advocating for systemic change that improves healthcare access and outcomes for refugee and underserved women. Our advocacy efforts focus on shaping public policy, collaborating with local organizations, and amplifying the voices of the women we serve. By addressing both policy gaps and on-the-ground challenges, we aim to create a healthcare system that prioritizes equity, inclusivity, and dignity for all women.

Policy Advocacy

We believe that lasting change starts at the policy level. Refugee and underserved women often face numerous barriers to accessing quality healthcare, from restrictive immigration policies to healthcare systems that do not recognize or meet their unique needs. Our policy advocacy is focused on:

  • Healthcare Access and Affordability: We push for policies that expand healthcare access for refugee women, including affordable reproductive health services, mental health support, and prenatal care. This includes advocating for Medicaid expansions, funding for community health clinics, and comprehensive healthcare coverage regardless of immigration status.
  • Reproductive Health Rights: We advocate for reproductive health policies that ensure refugee and underserved women have access to contraception, family planning services, and safe maternal care. This includes supporting legislation that protects women’s rights to make informed decisions about their reproductive health without fear of discrimination or barriers due to their immigration status.
  • Culturally Competent Care: We promote policies that require healthcare systems to provide culturally sensitive care. This includes mandating training for healthcare providers on cultural competence, as well as ensuring the availability of interpreters and resources in multiple languages to accommodate non-English speaking patients.
  • Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support: Many refugee women are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). We advocate for stronger legal protections and healthcare services that support survivors of GBV, including trauma-informed care, access to shelters, and legal assistance.

Through our advocacy work, we engage with lawmakers, healthcare leaders, and human rights organizations to influence policies that prioritize the health and well-being of refugee and underserved women. We also collaborate with research institutions to gather data and evidence that demonstrate the need for these changes, ensuring our advocacy is rooted in facts and the lived experiences of the communities we serve.

Local Partnerships and Community-Based Advocacy

Our advocacy efforts go beyond policy changes at the national level. We work closely with local organizations and community leaders to address immediate healthcare challenges faced by refugee women. By building strong local partnerships, we can create solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each community.

  • Collaborating with Healthcare Providers: We partner with local clinics, hospitals, and community health centers to ensure that refugee women receive the care they need. These partnerships help us advocate for the implementation of culturally competent practices within healthcare facilities and the expansion of services that are responsive to the unique needs of refugee populations.
  • Community Engagement: We actively engage with the communities we serve to understand their needs and amplify their voices. This grassroots approach allows us to identify barriers to healthcare access that may not be addressed through national policy alone. We work with local refugee organizations, women’s shelters, and cultural organizations to raise awareness about available healthcare services and advocate for improvements at the local level.
  • Empowering Community Leaders: Through our Community Health Ambassador program, we train refugee women to become advocates within their own communities. These women are empowered to educate others about healthcare rights and services, advocate for better healthcare policies at the local level, and serve as liaisons between their communities and healthcare providers.