The Health Center Advocacy Program is Creating Patient Advocates
By Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado | May 3, 2017, 6:21 p.m.
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What is the Health Center Advocacy Program?
The health center advocacy program (HCAP) is another way Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) is engaging supporters where they are – in the health centers! Visitors to nine of PPRM’s Colorado health centers have the opportunity to engage directly with volunteer health center activists in PPRM waiting areas and learn more about how to get involved directly with PPRM’s advocacy work. HCAP is designed to link the work happening in health centers with the work happening in the Capitol, and to give interested health center visitors a pathway to become advocates for reproductive rights, health, and justice.
What do HCAP Activists Do?
HCAP activists table in our health center waiting areas and talk to interested visitors about PPRM’s work protecting reproductive rights and health and how to get involved with Planned Parenthood in Colorado, and encourage folks who are interested in protecting and expanding access to care to join and help shape the reproductive rights movement.
To date, HCAP activists across Colorado have spent over a hundred hours tabling in health centers, recruited over 100 new supporters in waiting areas, and had countless conversations about advocacy with health center visitors. HCAP activists find the work rewarding, too – one Boulder activist shared:
Volunteering in an environment that embodies camaraderie, commitment, and passion is so rewarding! I feel so happy working with HCAP, the cause feels incredibly meaningful and inclusive. As an activist I have the ability to rally support for a broad range of reproductive health issues. Since I began as an HCAP activist, I feel closer to my community, and have a greater ability to converse about the importance of family health and why Planned Parenthood fights for increased access. This program allows us to have a ‘face’, and a place where other activists can find their voice.
-Erin, Boulder HCAP Activist
How can I get involved?
HCAP activists currently table in five health centers in the Denver area, Boulder, Fort Collins, Durango, and Colorado Springs, and we are always looking for interested individuals in any community that has a Planned Parenthood health center (see a list here!) that want to get involved with our work. HCAP activists have a time commitment of 2-3 hours per week, and evening and weekend opportunities are available.
The work is never done – and advocating for our health centers is more important than ever right now. Decided you want to get involved? Click here to join us!
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