Monday Monitor: March 30, 2020

COVID-19 Update from Missouri's Planned Parenthood Affiliates

A note from Planned Parenthood health centers:

"Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri are closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus 2019 disease, or COVID-19. The health and safety of Planned Parenthood patients, staff, and community is the top priority. All appropriate precautionary measures are being taken at both health centers and administrative offices.

"PPGP and PPSLRSWMO are dedicated and committed to our mission of providing the highest quality sexual and reproductive health care in our communities. Planned Parenthood’s doors are open, with appropriate screening precautions in place to continue seeing patients. We will continue to update our websites — ppgreatplains.org and ppslr.org — as things change, and we appreciate your flexibility and patience.

"To locate the health center closest to you, visit plannedparenthood.org/health-center or call 1.800.230.PLAN to schedule an appointment."

MoLeg Updates: Protect Planned Parenthood Patients from Discrimination

Missouri lawmakers are staying home again this week. The earliest they may return is April 6, when the Capitol building will reopen following a deep cleaning. These are unprecedented times, and many things are in flux. It is unclear what the rest of the 2020 legislative session will look like, but one thing is certain: the Missouri Constitution requires lawmakers to pass a budget each year. While we're in the midst of a global pandemic, the last thing we need is for extremist politicians to undercut our public safety net and deny Missourians the health care they desperately need.

State lawmakers are using the budget to discriminate against Missourians who rely on publicly funded health programs for birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment at any health center that provides or refers for abortion — and Planned Parenthood is their biggest target.

Blocking patients from accessing health care is unacceptable, and it is even more outrageous to do it while we face one of the most dire public health crises of our time. Our elected officials should be focused on strengthening Missouri's overloaded health care safety net — not targeting providers and blocking patients' access to care.

Tell your state representative to vote NO on any measure that discriminates against patients and blocks their access to care at Planned Parenthood.

#CountMeIn: Pledge to take the 2020 Census!

Every 10 years, the census counts every single person living in the United States. The government uses this information to make decisions about billions of dollars in spending, like where schools are built, what roads are funded and which communities get hospitals. Census data also determines how many members of Congress each state gets and how many state legislators are needed.

We know it is critical that everyone is counted. Planned Parenthood patients depend on the resources channeled to their communities and we need to ensure those communities get the health care, education, economic development, and other resources they deserve. This can only happen if everyone gets counted — pledge to take the census today!

Netflix Party this Friday: Obvious Child

Social distancing can be a challenge for many of us, and it’s important to stay connected! Let’s come together — remotely — for a good movie and snacks! On Friday evening, April 3, join Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri’s Community Engagement Team for a Netflix Party showing of “Obvious Child.”

A Netflix Party is a new way to watch movies together! Netflix released a new interactive movie-watching experience that allows you to interact with your friends from the comfort of your home. If you already have an account, this new feature is included.

RSVP to join the Netflix Party on Friday!

SEMO Virtual Phone Bank: COVID-19 Community Check-In

During this unprecedented time, we are launching a virtual phone bank to check in with supporters and see how they’re doing. This phone bank is ongoing, and volunteers may join in from home at any time! Questions? Email Southeast Missouri Grassroots Organizer Aaron Lerma at [email protected].

RSVP to get started making calls!

Calling Mid-Missouri Activists & Supporters!

Lexi Brown is the new grassroots organizer in Mid-Missouri, and she has put together a short survey to learn about the community's needs and wants when it comes to reproductive freedom. Can you take a few minutes to share your thoughts?

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