Together, We’re Closing the Gap in Essential Services for Women in Berkshire County
Responding to the unique health care needs of our rural community is at the heart of CHP’s mission – and your support helps make it possible. In 2023 we launched a vital two-year partnership with Upstream USA to expand access to contraceptive care (i.e. birth control) in the Berkshires, where too many women still face barriers to receiving essential services.
In a country where over 19 million women struggle to access contraception, rural regions face especially steep barriers. One proven solution?
Training primary care providers (PCPs) – who are often a patient’s most consistent point of contact in the healthcare system – to offer a full range of contraceptive options including prescription medications and long-acting reservable contraceptives (LARCs) like IUDs and implants.
This approach is already showing promise. Before Upstream USA began work in Massachusetts in 2018, just 34% of PCPs were prescribing common birth control methods like the pill, patch, or ring. By partnering with Federally Qualified Health Centers like CHP, Upstream USA is helping transform reproductive health care access at the community level.
“At Upstream, we believe we have reached a critical point in our history that requires an accelerated approach to advance contraceptive access. It requires a shift in perspective and the recognition that contraceptive care is basic healthcare,”says Tricia Wajda of Upstream USA.
“Primary care providers, who often serve as the main point of contact for patients, should be trained, supported, and encouraged to offer contraceptive services so that every person has access to the contraceptive service of their choice, where and when it is most convenient for them to receive it.”
The partnership between CHP and Upstream USA is about meeting patients where they are and improving their experience. Upstream’s training gives our clinicians the skills they need to provide patient-centered, unbiased counseling and contraceptive education – ensuring that every patient, at every CHP location gets the support they need to make confident, informed choices.
“My doctor was very informative and talked to me about all of my options. I never felt judged or pressured. I like that she understands everything that I’m saying and I understand the stuff she tells me.”
– CHP Patient
Your generosity helps drive innovations like this – bringing compassionate, accessible care to neighbors in Berkshire County. Together, we’re building a healthier, more equitable future.