Latinas in the U.S. still suffer formidable barriers when they seek to access reproductive health care
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice has campaigned for more than 15 years to attain for Latinas in the U.S. the reproductive health care they need and want.
In a strongly worded article in the Huffington Post, the Latina Institute's CEO, Sylvia Henriquez, decries the short fall for Latinas in the recent health care reform legislation:
"As it stands, health care reform does nothing to minimize or eliminate ... costly copayments for birth control for working women.
Scant attention is paid to the financial, regulatory and social barriers that stop many Latinas from accessing the birth control they seek," even when they have insurance.
Future Choices welcomes Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Deputy Director of the the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, who details the genesis fob these barriers and what they are doing to overcome them.
In the course of the televised interview, "Advancing Reproductive Justice for Latinas in the U.S." she:
- translates the mission statement in human perspective.
- reveals the significance of the Latina Institute's famous poster: "Salud, Dignidad, Justicia."
- recounts the myriad of civic and educational activities which the Latina Institute undertakes.
- She encourages all to join in their efforts to
- repeal the Hyde Amendment |MORE about Hyde Amendment
- eliminate costly co-payments which prevent too many Latinas from getting the family planning care they seek.
- to pass the DREAM Act.
- to ensure that reproductive health care will be included as a preventative health care service.
When is Future Choices aired in your community?
See Local TV schedule for time and channel in each participating community in Westchester County.
Sylvia Gonzalez Speaks Out on Behalf of Latinas
Insightful articles by the CEO of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, are often seen in the
Huffington Post: "After Jersey Garcia welcomed her first baby earlier this year in a planned pregnancy, she was shocked to learn that, despite having health insurance through her employer, she couldn't afford to resume her birth control..."|MORE
Huffington Post: "Are the nation's efforts to curb Latina teen pregnancy actually making young Latinas more vulnerable?" |MORE
National Partnership for Women and Families' Daily Women's Health Policy Report: "According to the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, 57% of Hispanic women of reproductive age are uninsured...The important issue here is to look at why women self-administer misoprostol and other drugs to terminate unintended pregnancies...It really comes down to barriers women face accessing abortion care." |MORE
New York Times (letter to the editor): "The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health knows very well the devastating impact of making abortion elusive for those who can't pay with personal funds. Latinas are among the poorest in this country and tend to lack access to health insurance in higher numbers than other groups. In fact, one in four women living in poverty who wants to choose abortion can't because politicians prevent federal tax dollars from covering the procedure." |MORE
RH Reality Check: "My parents came to the U.S from El Salvador in the early 70s. They have always been political. However, abortion for my parents is not a political issue; it is a health care service. My father, who has been a physician in the Bronx for over 30 years, always reminds me, that when he was a medical student in El Salvador, he saw women in the emergency room with unfinished or botched abortions. Many of them died trying to do the best for their families."
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in "Securing Real Choices Means Going Beyond Choice"
Economy and Politics Leave Young Latinas Struggling to Afford Birth Control
Destiny Lopez
RHReality Check
November 29, 2010
The director of Latino engagement for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) explains why the American political economy makes it particularly difficult for Latinas to afford proper birth control. "In the United States, Latinas are the group that would most benefit from the push to provide no-cost birth control to all women – because they are among the ones least able to afford birth control." But... |MORE
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas is the Deputy Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, the only national reproductive justice organization that specifically works to advance reproductive health and rights for Latinas.
As a native New Yorker, she is engaged in numerous progressive local and national organizations that promotes social justice advocacy, particularly around immigrant, Latina, and gender issues. Jessica is...|MORE
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