South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

Seeking Solutions as STDs Continue to Rise

Sarah Stoesz, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota offered her voice on the STD problem in South Dakota, noted the 2013 South Dakota STD Report which we released today, and mentioned our Free STD Testing Day in Argus Leader’s My Voice column on Saturday.

“It’s especially concerning that the rates of Chlamydia continue to rise, because this often silent infection can wreak havoc on someone’s life. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported infectious disease in South Dakota, and the rates have more than doubled over the past 12 years---especially among young people and people of color.”

Don’t forget---our Free STD Testing Day is finally here! We will be offering FREE Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and rapid HIV tests on  a walk-in basis at our clinics in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Sioux Falls Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM CDT - 4:30 PM CDT

6511 West 41st Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57106

605.361.5100

 

Rapid City Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM MDT - 2:00 PM MDT

619 Mountain View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

605.341.2545

As Sarah offered in the Argus Leader, “If Planned Parenthood’s testing day helps even a small handfull of South Dakotans walk away with a clean bill of health and information that will help them stay healthy--then that’s a step in the right direction.”

The 2013 South Dakota STD Report is now out and can be found here. We hope you will take a few minutes to read it to see how big this problem really is and what we are suggesting to do in order to achieve a healthier South Dakota.

Free STD Testing Day

As you already know, we are offering a FREE STD Testing Day at both our Sioux Falls and Rapid City clinics on June 18^th!

Here are the details again:

Sioux Falls Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM CDT - 4:30 PM CDT

6511 West 41st Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57106

605.361.5100

Email Mwellner@ppmns.org to volunteer!

 

Rapid City Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM MDT - 2:00 PM MDT

619 Mountain View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

605.341.2545

Email Mwellner@ppmns.org to volunteer!

 

Wondering how you can help?

• Stop by either clinic to pick up some fliers to put up around town.
• Share this blog post on your social media pages!
• Print one of the below fliers to put up somewhere if you don’t have time to stop by and pick up already printed fliers!
• Provide some baked goods for either clinic on the testing day so that patients can have a quick snack while waiting!

If you don’t live in the Rapid City or Sioux Falls area there are still ways you can help

• Share the fliers, events, blog  posts on your social media for your friends that might not like our social media pages, but live near our clinics!
• Write a letter to the editor on why this free testing day is important to our state as it is facing an STD epidemic.
• Make sure you are signed up for our email list to learn about future opportunities and to get a copy of our STD Report!

We are excited about offering this free testing day and the release of our STD Report and hope you are too!

 

Download Really Rapid City

Download Really Sioux Falls

Download Rapid City

Download Sioux Falls

Free STD Testing Day

Did you see the May issue of Team Roe Times or our latest email newsletter both which contained our exciting announcement?

If not, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota will be offering a free STD testing day at both of our South Dakota clinics on June 18th!

Sioux Falls Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM CDT - 4:30 PM CDT

6511 West 41st Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57106

Rapid City Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM MDT - 2:00 PM MDT

619 Mountain View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

If you are able to volunteer to help in Rapid City or Sioux Falls contact Megan. Volunteer opportunities with this event will mainly be in advance of the day. We will be looking for help getting flyers out in both Rapid City and Sioux Falls. There are some other volunteer opportunities around this event as well.

We will be offering this free testing day in conjunction with the release of our South Dakota STD Report that examines the alarming epidemic that South Dakota is currently facing.

Be watching for more information on the Free STD Testing Day, the South Dakota STD Report, and other volunteer opportunities coming soon!

 

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

May marks the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. And in the state of South Dakota this is an important month because teen pregnancy rates remain too high despite the fact that they have dropped nationally. In 2008 the pregnancy rate (number of pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19) of teens was 53. While this has dropped over the years, and in data from another source the rate was as low as 35 in 2010, this doesn’t mean South Dakota shouldn’t be cautious.

What can we do to continue to make sure that the teen pregnancy rate in South Dakota declines?

Make sure that teens in South Dakota have access to sex education and birth control first and foremost. Communication is also vital. Parents and schools need to have these conversations about sex with teens.

Obama Addresses Planned Parenthood Conference

Last week President Obama addressed the Planned Parenthood 2013 National Conference.  History was made this day as President Obama became the first sitting President to address Planned Parenthood.

Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, touted the major advancements for women made by the President. From passing the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, renewing the Violence Against Women Act, and, most significantly, championing the Affordable Care Act, which allows young adults to stay on their parents health insurance until age 26, provides no-cost birth control, prohibits denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, removes discriminatory gender-based premiums, and so much more.

In his speech President Obama called out extreme anti choice legislation passed in North Dakota outlawing a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy as early as six weeks- even if she has been raped. He also referenced the state level efforts, like in Mississippi, to pass Personhood laws that would have far reaching consequences including limiting access to invitro fertilization and some forms of contraception- a battle which is looming on the horizon in North Dakota.

Watch the President’s address in its entirety here…

 

 

~Amy Jacobson ND Public Affairs Manager at PPMNS

Get Yourself Tested Month

April marks Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness however, at Planned Parenthood we often refer to it as Get Yourself Tested Month. The aim of STD Awareness & GYT month is to improve education, prevention, and increase testing.

You will often see both STD and STI used when talking about this month. What is the difference? There is not really one, many prefer to use the term Sexually Transmitted Infections because of the stigma associated with the term disease.

Why is it important to Get Yourself Tested?

Share Your Story

North Dakota’s constitutional amendment that puts Personhood on the ballot in 2014 goes far beyond just banning abortion--it could ban some forms of birth control and IVF. Help us fight back by sharing your story with us today.

We need to help educate the public in North Dakota  about everything this amendment could affect.

And we need your help in doing so.

Would this have affected you if already enacted?

Will it potentially affect you?

Do you know someone it might affect?

Help us fight back by sharing your story with us today.

Download Story Release Form

If you have a story you are willing to share to help educate the public please email it to advocacy@ppmns.org.

Personal stories are the best way to show the public what is really in jeopardy with this amendment.

Please take the time to share your story and help us fight this amendment.

 

ND Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3/26/13

 

Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban;

North Dakota Braces for Litigation as “Personhood” Heads to 2014 Ballot

Fargo, ND – Today, Governor Dalrymple signed a near total abortion ban into law, effectively making North Dakota one of the most hostile states in the country towards women’s health. Governor Dalrymple secured North Dakota’s place in history as the state with the most extreme ban on abortion by signing one bill that will ban safe and legal abortion as early as 6 weeks — before a woman may even know she is pregnant. There are no exceptions if a woman has been the victim of rape, if her health is threatened, or if she will lose the pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. This comes on the heels of last week’s actions by the North Dakota Legislature which launched the state into a bitter, 20-month battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. Planned Parenthood will work in partnership with a broad coalition of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and others to educate our fellow North Dakotans about the far-reaching consequences and impact of “personhood.”

 

The following is a statement by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz.

“With his signature, today Governor Dalrymple severely compromised the health and well-being of all North Dakota women and their families.”

 

“This sweeping package of bills will not stand up to constitutional scrutiny. But as a result of North Dakota’s leaders’ disregard for women’s health, the state will endure months and years of drawn-out litigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a reckless and appalling waste of resources.”

 

“One thing became clear during the last few weeks: North Dakotans do not want to see politicians interfering with the personal medical decisions of women. Hundreds of grassroots activists spoke loudly and clearly as these bills moved through the legislature. Planned Parenthood was proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of North Dakotans who bravely stood in opposition to this abortion ban.”

 

“What’s left of the legislature’s all-out assault on women’s health is what will no doubt be a grueling, months-long battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. “Personhood” measures are so extreme even the most conservative states, like Mississippi, have rejected them. North Dakotans know that decisions about pregnancy and abortion are deeply personal and very complex. The grassroots uprising we saw in Bismarck and Fargo was just a taste of what’s to come as voters in the state learn about the dangers of this constitutional amendment. In 2014, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to stand up to these politicians and say ‘enough is enough.’”

 

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March Madness: The Worst State for Women

Mother Jones takes the typical March Madness bracket idea and spins it to be the bracket for the worst state for women.

Mother Jones

South Dakota Governor Signs Bill Extending Waiting Period for Abortion

On Friday, Governor Daugaard signed HB 1237 into law.  Friday was also International Women’s Day. Not exactly how one would hope South Dakota would celebrate.

HB 1237, extends the mandatory abortion waiting period by excluding weekends and holidays from counting towards it.

Below is the statement that PPMNS released in regards to Governor Daugaard signing this bill into law.

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Today, Governor Daugaard signed a bill into law that will exclude weekends and holidays from the calculation of a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion, which will result in a longer waiting period for many women and a further erosion of access to abortion in the state. The following is a statement from Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO Sarah Stoesz.

“Today’s Governor Daugaard signed into law a longer waiting period for abortion, once again proving the state’s hostility to women’s health and partiality to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which are known for misleading and coercing women.”

“We are very disappointed that the state is further burdening women with medically unnecessary waiting periods for abortion. We will continue to stand with the women of South Dakota and fight for their access to safe and legal abortion, should they need to consider it.”

“These decisions that women and families are faced with are deeply personal and complex. Politicians have no place interfering with the personal medical decisions of women and families.”

 

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For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota has worked in our region to make sure all people have the information and the means to make free and responsible decisions about whether and when to have children.  Planned Parenthood operates 20 clinics in Minnesota and South Dakota and an Online Health Center, providing quality and affordable family planning, reproductive health care services and education to nearly 64,000  women and men each year.

Visit us on the web at www.ppmns.org