Category: Policy Updates
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Ashley Lidow on May 29, 2018
The Trump administration proposed a domestic gag rule that would hurt women in the US by stripping Title X funding—funding that is dedicated to providing reproductive health services and care—from healthcare providers that refer patients for abortion services. This funding cut would have the biggest impact on low-income Americans. First, let’s talk about gag rules…. Read more
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Eme Crawford on May 25, 2018
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) has applied for a Medicaid waiver to change the way that family planning services are delivered in South Carolina. While the stated intentions of the waiver are to improve maternal and child healthcare, this change in policy will limit South Carolinians’ access to the health… Read more
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Ann Warner on May 4, 2018
You did it. In the wee hours of the morning, after days of debate, the voices for women’s health, rights, and dignity prevailed over politics in South Carolina. The Senate voted to recommit H 3548, an extreme and dangerous anti-abortion bill, to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee. With only a few days left in the… Read more
Advocate Stories, Health and Education, Leadership and Civic Engagement, Policy Updates
by Ann Warner on May 3, 2018
In the dead of night, in the last days of session, instead of solving real problems that plague our state, the South Carolina Senate voted to outright ban abortion in our state. This is our moment to come together and push back against the MOST EXTREME abortion restriction we’ve ever seen in our state…. Read more
Advocate Stories, Policy Updates
by Ashley Lidow on Apr 27, 2018
At WREN we are constantly trying to educate our members on the importance of using your voice and taking action. . One of our key focus areas is leadership because when there is diversity in leadership we get better results. Some may say that diversity will happen organically, but unfortunately that is not the case;… Read more
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Megan Plassmeyer on Apr 19, 2018
Did you hear the news? This week we launched #12DaysofAdvocacy in honor of the last twelve days left in the 2017-2018 legislative session. The first bill we focused on is the 12 Month Supply of Contraception bill. This bill would allow a woman to receive up to a 12 month supply of contraception at a time. Contraception… Read more
Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Megan Plassmeyer on Apr 13, 2018
This week, the South Carolina Senate debated the state budget, specifically addressing four amendments that would have been extremely harmful for women across the state. Unlike Gov. McMaster’s executive order issued last summer that was designed to block state agencies from paying state or local taxpayer money to doctor’s or medical practices that provide abortions,… Read more
Economic Opportunity, Policy Updates
by Carson Cook on Mar 5, 2018
The benefits of breastfeeding to mom and infant are well documented and The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the US Surgeon General recommend that infants be breastfed exclusively for the first 6-months of life and breastmilk should remain a part of their diet at least up… Read more
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by Megan Plassmeyer on Mar 2, 2018
As we move further into the 2017-18 legislative session, we’ve seen advocates, testifiers, and lawmakers that remind us what true strength and dedication reside in our community, specifically in women who face daily threats to healthcare access and bodily autonomy. Their voices, and yours, have meant so much in the ongoing battle to preserve and… Read more
Health and Education, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Feb 27, 2018
For 20 years in a row, “personhood” legislation has been introduced in South Carolina that would interfere with a woman’s right to make personal, private decisions about her own body and her health. South Carolina is one of many states that have advanced so-called personhood legislation, legislation that seeks to establish full legal rights including… Read more