Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Our political action plan has been carried out in the following ways:
Our group members have invited key stakeholders and legislators (see below) to participate and comment on our blog.
Our group members have discussed how we can work together with the key stakeholders and legislators to get the bill passed.
Our group members have inquired about what we can add to their support of the bill.
Throughout this process we have made sure that our blog contains the most recent and up to date information on the progress of the bill.
Each group member has contacted local representatives and pledge our local support of the bill, as nursing student.
The Virginia Nursing Students Association and Virginia Nursing Association were both contacted in the same manor as the stakeholders.
Our group members have invited key stakeholders and legislators (see below) to participate and comment on our blog.
Our group members have discussed how we can work together with the key stakeholders and legislators to get the bill passed.
Our group members have inquired about what we can add to their support of the bill.
Throughout this process we have made sure that our blog contains the most recent and up to date information on the progress of the bill.
Each group member has contacted local representatives and pledge our local support of the bill, as nursing student.
The Virginia Nursing Students Association and Virginia Nursing Association were both contacted in the same manor as the stakeholders.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Key Stakeholders Invited to Our Blog
Lincoln Davis was contacted because he is a key stakeholder in this bill. He is a sponsor for this bill. His insight and expertise would improve the quality of our blog.
Jessica Honke was contacted because she is the director of public policy for the Planned Parenthood division in Virginia. Jessica Honke could provide insight on Planned Parenthood’s discernment for the legislative bill, HR 605.
Lisa Armstrong from the WIC Program was contacted. She is the Nutritional Manager of the Virginia division. WIC is considered a keystake holder for this bill because their program is directly effected. In section 1201b of the bill, WIC is being authorized $15,000,000 for breast-feeding peer counselors and $14,000,000 for infrastructure needs for fiscal year 2010 (October 2009 - September 2010) and each fiscal year through 2014.
Ed Healy, the Information Technology Specialist of the District 3 (our district) of HHS was contacted. Health & Human Services is a key stakeholder in this Bill because with the passage of HR 605, they will be a huge help in implementing the education and the services provided to mothers in need.
Representative Peter King and Congressman Doug Lamborn were contacted. They are two of the co-sponsors of HR 605. As key stakeholders, they have the ability to voice their opinions towards a huge audience and obtain more support from fellow politicians and constituents.
Rachel Blum was contacted because she is a mother who would have great insight on this bill. There are many expenses that accompany pregnancy (and after) and I thought that her comments on our blog would be very beneficial.
Jessica Honke was contacted because she is the director of public policy for the Planned Parenthood division in Virginia. Jessica Honke could provide insight on Planned Parenthood’s discernment for the legislative bill, HR 605.
Lisa Armstrong from the WIC Program was contacted. She is the Nutritional Manager of the Virginia division. WIC is considered a keystake holder for this bill because their program is directly effected. In section 1201b of the bill, WIC is being authorized $15,000,000 for breast-feeding peer counselors and $14,000,000 for infrastructure needs for fiscal year 2010 (October 2009 - September 2010) and each fiscal year through 2014.
Ed Healy, the Information Technology Specialist of the District 3 (our district) of HHS was contacted. Health & Human Services is a key stakeholder in this Bill because with the passage of HR 605, they will be a huge help in implementing the education and the services provided to mothers in need.
Representative Peter King and Congressman Doug Lamborn were contacted. They are two of the co-sponsors of HR 605. As key stakeholders, they have the ability to voice their opinions towards a huge audience and obtain more support from fellow politicians and constituents.
Rachel Blum was contacted because she is a mother who would have great insight on this bill. There are many expenses that accompany pregnancy (and after) and I thought that her comments on our blog would be very beneficial.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Political Position and Action Plan:
Based on our research and understanding of HR 605, Women’s Support Act, we support the bill and its actions. Increased abortion rates can be prevented by identify the causes behind it. According to the 2008 research study by Rudolph Gurtovink, increased abortion rates are associated with financial difficulties, rape, fear of life changes, lack of adequate information on abortion services, geographic barriers, social and psychological concerns and state legislative. If we are able to provide programs to identify these particular issues, prevention of abortion rates could decrease. For more information on this study please visit: http://www.bookpump.com/dps/pdf-b/9427028b.pdf
Identifying target populations that are affected by abortions can help decrease abortion rates. According to Sandra Yin’s evidence based study “younger women have the bulk of abortions in the United States: 75 percent of women who had abortions in 2000 were in their teens or 20s, while women age 40 or older had only 3 percent of all abortions.” Also unmarried women were more likely to have an abortion compared to married women. Race is also an important factor to look at when dealing with abortion rates. “While white women undergo the majority (55 percent) of abortions, black women are three times more likely to end a pregnancy” Yin, 2005). Rachel Jones, a senior research associate at the Alan Guttmacher Institute, states that “black women have more unintended pregnancies because they are more likely to be poor and less likely to be married than white women.” Low economic status is associated with increased abortions. “Women who lived on less than twice the poverty threshold ($28,300 for a family of three in 2000) made up 30 percent of women in the general population, they made up 57 percent of the U.S. women who had abortions in 2000” (Yin, 2005).
For more information on this study please visit:
http://www.prb.org/Articles/2005/AbortionintheUnitedStatesandtheWorld.aspx.
Educating women about how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy is a key factor that will help not only the mother, but also the baby. Reaching out to mother in “at-risk” pregnancy populations is a target area. This will include setting up clinics and teaching centers to educate expecting moms on options, health, nutrition, resources, and support groups. This bill touches on all aspects of pregnancy needs. It helps those who are confused when pregnancy is an unplanned event, which 48% of pregnancies are. The fact that it explains the many options available to women is a great benefit. It addresses abortion, adoption, and effective, healthy ways and resources to carry the baby and raise it. Although abortion service education is provided, it is not emphasized any more than the other options. If the mother was considering abortion because she could not afford the child, or was concerned about proper nutrition during pregnancy, the bill emphasized ways to meet those barriers without ending the life of the fetus. Therefore, this bill should not be considered one sided bill based on political stands.
Our political action plan would be geared towards involving both sides of the political spectrum. The following include our preliminary actions:
1. Contact the supporters of the Bill (listed below on 10-12-09 post)
a. Invite them to participate in our blog
b. Discuss how we can work together to get the bill passed
c. Inquire about what we can add to their support
2. Assure that our blog contains the most recent up to date information on the progress of the bill
3. Contact local representatives and pledge our local support of the bill, as nursing student
a. Contact local VNSA to get support on a greater level
b. Contact VNA or ANA and inquire about their support
Identifying target populations that are affected by abortions can help decrease abortion rates. According to Sandra Yin’s evidence based study “younger women have the bulk of abortions in the United States: 75 percent of women who had abortions in 2000 were in their teens or 20s, while women age 40 or older had only 3 percent of all abortions.” Also unmarried women were more likely to have an abortion compared to married women. Race is also an important factor to look at when dealing with abortion rates. “While white women undergo the majority (55 percent) of abortions, black women are three times more likely to end a pregnancy” Yin, 2005). Rachel Jones, a senior research associate at the Alan Guttmacher Institute, states that “black women have more unintended pregnancies because they are more likely to be poor and less likely to be married than white women.” Low economic status is associated with increased abortions. “Women who lived on less than twice the poverty threshold ($28,300 for a family of three in 2000) made up 30 percent of women in the general population, they made up 57 percent of the U.S. women who had abortions in 2000” (Yin, 2005).
For more information on this study please visit:
http://www.prb.org/Articles/2005/AbortionintheUnitedStatesandtheWorld.aspx.
Educating women about how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy is a key factor that will help not only the mother, but also the baby. Reaching out to mother in “at-risk” pregnancy populations is a target area. This will include setting up clinics and teaching centers to educate expecting moms on options, health, nutrition, resources, and support groups. This bill touches on all aspects of pregnancy needs. It helps those who are confused when pregnancy is an unplanned event, which 48% of pregnancies are. The fact that it explains the many options available to women is a great benefit. It addresses abortion, adoption, and effective, healthy ways and resources to carry the baby and raise it. Although abortion service education is provided, it is not emphasized any more than the other options. If the mother was considering abortion because she could not afford the child, or was concerned about proper nutrition during pregnancy, the bill emphasized ways to meet those barriers without ending the life of the fetus. Therefore, this bill should not be considered one sided bill based on political stands.
Our political action plan would be geared towards involving both sides of the political spectrum. The following include our preliminary actions:
1. Contact the supporters of the Bill (listed below on 10-12-09 post)
a. Invite them to participate in our blog
b. Discuss how we can work together to get the bill passed
c. Inquire about what we can add to their support
2. Assure that our blog contains the most recent up to date information on the progress of the bill
3. Contact local representatives and pledge our local support of the bill, as nursing student
a. Contact local VNSA to get support on a greater level
b. Contact VNA or ANA and inquire about their support
Sponsor of HR 605:
Representative Lincoln Davis (D-TN)
Rep. Davis has proudly served Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District since January 7, 2003. First elected Mayor of Byrdstown in 1978, Davis went on to serve in both the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Tennessee State Senate. In the state legislature, Davis fought for long-term care for senior citizens, character education in schools and tough domestic violence legislation. Today, Davis continues to work for Tennesseans by fighting for legislation that will create opportunities for economic development, curb methamphetamine abuse, improve veterans' benefits, strengthen homeland security and fight for a balanced budget that will better serve the workers and families of the Fourth District.
Cosponsors:
Peter King (R-NY)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
James Langevin (D-RI)
John Murtha (D-PA)
James Oberstar (D-MN)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Impact of Policy Change of Health Care System, Nurses, & Patients
The effect HR 605 has on the health care system would stem from the increased need of for money from the government, particularly to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover pregnant women and unborn children. The monetary needs may have to be met by the government, potentially taking away from other programs and areas of the health care system. Grants would be needed to increase public awareness of resources available to pregnant women. The government would have to work with health insurance companies to cover women with already-existing pregnancies and make sure that they cover the unborn children and the newborns. Separate grants would also have to be allocated to individual states based on the needs to cover support for pregnant and parenting teens. Government money would also be used to increase the monetary funds give to the WIC (women’s infant’s and children’s) food stamp program. Education will also be a huge change, but again, will require more money to get nurses out into the community and providing patients the information they need. Nurses will have to increase prenatal education for mothers and families by nurses, both in private homes and in the community. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to increase public awareness of resources available to pregnant women to carry their pregnancy to term and new parents. With an increase in education and care by nurses during the prenatal phase of pregnancy birthing complications, length of hospital stay and expenses would decrease from the current astronomical price of $5.8 billion spent on preterm/low birth rate babies (Russel et al).
Nurses will also have to work with other interdisciplinary teams in order to promote effectiveness of this bill. Nurses will have to work in partnership with teachers for early childhood education programs and to work with pregnant/parenting teens to complete high schools and prepare for further education. Nurses will have to collaborate with other organizations such as social work, adoptive programs, insurance companies, poverty and welfare assistance. With the passing of this legislative bill, it will enhance the need to train, hire, and educate more nurses in hope to reducing abortion rates and promote healthy births.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Objectives of HR 605
The following titles are listed as the goals within the HR 605 bill:
- Public awareness and assistance for pregnant women and new parents
- Increasing women’s knowledge about their pregnancy
- Pregnancy as a preexisting condition
- Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) coverage of pregnant women and unborn children
- Disclosure of information on abortion services
- Services to patients receiving positive test diagnosis of Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions
- Support for pregnant and parenting college students
- Support for pregnant and parenting teens
- Improving services for pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking
- Life support centers for pregnant women, mothers, and children
- Expansion of adoption credit and adoption assistance programs
- Providing support to new parents
- Collecting and reporting abortion data
Political Supporters of HR 605
The following organizations have taken a stance on this bill:
- Democrats for Life
- Ethics and Religious Liberty
- Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
- Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
So far, there are no organizations opposing this bill.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
HR 605: Pregnant Women Support Act
What is HR 605
- Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment for examinations of pregnant women
- Provides for continuation coverage for newborns
- Requires health facilities that perform abortions to obtain informed consent from a pregnant woman seeking an abortion
- Directs the Secretary to provide for:
1. higher education pregnant and parenting student services offices
2. programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school
- Authorizes appropriations to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program)
- Authorizes grants to provide to eligible mothers education on the health needs of their infants through visits to their homes by registered nurses
- Authorizes grants for services to pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Requires states to require a pregnancy determination for homicide victims
Sponsors
Representatives: King, Peter (NY-3), Lamborn, Doug (CO-5), Langevin, James R (RI-2), Murtha, John P (PA-12), Oberstar, James L. (MN-8), Sounder, Mark E (IN-3)
Issues: Why A Need for Change?
(the following is based on Congressional findings which were presented when the Bill was introduced and can be found at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-605)
1. In 2004, 839,226 abortions were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. 48 percent of all pregnancies in America are unintended. Excluding miscarriages, 54 percent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion.
3. 57 percent of women who have abortions have incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level.
4. ‘Cannot afford a baby’ is the second most frequently cited reason women choose to have an abortion; 73 percent of women having abortions cited this reason as a contributing factor.
5. This Act is an initiative to gather more complete information about abortion, to reduce the abortion rate by helping women carry their pregnancies to term and bear healthy children, and by affirming the right of women to be fully informed about their other options when they seek an abortion.
6. The initiative will work to support women facing unplanned pregnancies, new parents and their children by providing comprehensive measures for health care needs, supportive services and helpful prenatal information and postnatal services.
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