IRHI has second successful year | Letter
Published 12:05 pm Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Programs for affordable and confidential, sexual and reproductive health care for teens and young women are threatened with severe funding cuts and restrictions. However, Islands Reproductive Health Initiative strives to insure that these important services continue to be available on Orcas, especially for all who need financial assistance.
In this season of thanks and giving, IRHI wants to thank those who have made its existence possible.
Since it began in January 2010, IRHI has received generous private contributions amounting to approximately $6,500 per year from more than 50 Orcas donors. It also received a $1,000 grant from the Orcas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Fund, and an $800 Youth Grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation, awarded by Orcas High School’s government studies class. These donations have helped meet medical clinic expenses of over $10,000 per year for treating IRHI patients.
Thanks to OICF sponsorship of the OICF/IRHI Fund, and to the Orcas Medical Foundation for overseeing reimbursement of patient costs to all local medical clinics, IRHI is able to function solely through volunteers, without any administrative overhead.
Julie Pinardi, Family Support Specialist for Orcas middle- and high-school students, values being able to count on IRHI to accept referrals of teens with STDs. “I’ve referred sexually active teens not using birth control and/or not practicing safe sex,” she said.
A 23-year-old mother of a four-year-old who does not want to have another child at this time said this about IRHA services:
“I am not eligible for medical insurance through the state. I clean houses, but my work has dwindled. Her father and I now essentially live on his salary. He has medical insurance, but the cost of adding me to his plan is too expensive. So I depend on the financial assistance of IRHI for the cost of my reproductive health care and birth control pills.”
IRHI is thankful for the contributions of all supporters, and looks forward to helping teens and young women receive the sexual and reproductive health care they need throughout the coming new year.
Sarah Lyle
IRHI Steering Committee
