The most troubling piece of legislation that has a chance of passing is SB 290/HB 277, which would severely undermine the services of women’s health clinics, and in reality seeks to make abortion services all but impossible. You can track the bill at ppaction.org, or myflorida.gov. We’ll also keep you updated here!

Emergency contraception, also called “the morning after pill” and sold under the brand name Plan B — It’s emergency birth control!

Sometimes the condom breaks, or you forget to use your regular birth control. If you have unprotected sex or think that your birth control might not be working, you can still prevent pregnancy after sex.

Morning after birth control, or emergency contraception (EC), is composed of a special formulation of the hormones used in regular birth control. It is sold under the brand name Plan B. You can also use your regular birth control pills as emergency birth control. Click here to learn how.

Here’s what you need to know about EC:

Take EC if:
• You had sex and didn’t use protection
• Someone forced you to have sex
• You forgot to take your birth control pills
• You’re late for your DepoProvera shot
• The condom broke, leaked or came off

Take EC :
• Immediately after unprotected sex if possible.
• It’s most effective within 24 hours
• Little by little it becomes less effective
• After 5 days, it won’t work

What about side effects?
• Some women have them
• You may feel tired, dizzy or sick to your stomach
• You may vomit or have abdominal cramps, headache or tender breasts
• If symptoms last longer than a day, see your healthcare provider
• Your period may be lighter or heavier than usual.
• If your period is late, you may already have been pregnant and you will need to see your healthcare provider.

More important information

• Using EC may change the time of the month when you can become pregnant

• After you use EC, you must take extra care to use birth control every time you have sex until you get your next period.

• If you have unprotected sex again, be sure to take EC again

• You have the best chance of taking EC immediately after unprotected sex if you have it on hand before you need it. Get it today. Always keep it handy.

• EC never protects against sexually transmitted infection. Always use a condom.

How to get EC

• In Florida, EC is covered by Medicaid, so the cost is reimbursed if you are on Medicaid—but ONLY with a prescription.

• Miami-Dade public health clinics provide EC for free or on a sliding scale, depending on your income.  

• Plan B is provided for free to all teens under age 18.

• All Planned Parenthood clinics provide Plan B at 35.00.

Most of our clients are single mothers in their 20’s struggling against poverty. A substantial minority are battling substance abuse or living with serious illnesses, including AIDS, cancer and heart disease. Approximately 12% have been raped or otherwise abused. Ten percent are homeless.

All come to WEN because they do not have the physical, emotional or financial wherewithal to bring a child into the world and feel that continuing the pregnancy would jeopardize their own future and/or that of their children.

Women who seek our help say that, if they are forced to continue the pregnancy, they will not be able to support themselves and their families. Often, women have reached the end of their welfare allotments; they cannot obtain decent, affordable daycare and can barely provide care for the children they already have.

In other circumstances, continuing the pregnancy can bind a woman to an abusive man. It can exacerbate a physical or mental illness or impede its treatment.

For an adolescent, the problem is every bit as daunting. Any teen who is pregnant faces double jeopardy; for herself, of dropping out of school and living perpetually in poverty; for her children, of being born at low birth weight and at risk for delayed development.

WEN provides the solution to unwanted pregnancy: counseling to explore the available options, referrals to appropriate care and services for those who choose to continue the pregnancy, and subsidies to help cover the cost of termination for those who choose abortion.

With WEN’s help, these women and girls can be freed to protect their own future and take good care of children they already have. Because WEN stepped in at a critical moment, some will complete their education instead of dropping out of school. Others with be able to keep a newly acquired job and break out of poverty. Still others will have the opportunity to escape from an abusive relationship. Or recover from illness or addiction. Or cope with the other stresses in their lives and nurture children they already have.

By helping poor women and girls prevent the birth of unwanted children, WEN prevents tragedies for our clients, for their children, and for all of society.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

If you decide to have an abortion and are under 18 years of age, Florida has a parental notification law that requires the health care provider to tell your parent or legal guardian 48 hours (2 days) before you have an abortion unless it does not apply to you (see below, “Exemptions from Parental Notification“). We encourage you to talk to your parent/guardian about your decision. Both of you will need to bring identification (see below, “Acceptable Forms of ID & Approved Documents“), and your parent/guardian must sign a form saying that he or she knows you are going to have an abortion.

What If I Cannot Tell My Parent/Legal Guardian?

While we encourage you to discuss this decision with your parent/guardian, we understand not every teen can. If you cannot bring your parent/guardian with you to the health center, then you will need to bring in a Judicial Bypass Waiver at the time of your appointment. For information on getting a judicial bypass, see the bottom of this page for county courthouse contact information.

Exemptions from Parental Notification

In a few situations, the law concerning parental notification does not apply. See below, ”Acceptable Forms of ID & Approved Documents,” for the documents required. You DO NOT need parental notification if:

• You are married or divorced
• You have a minor child dependent on you
• A medical emergency exists and there is not enough time to comply with the notification requirements
• You get a court order to bypass (or “waive”) the parental notification requirement

ON THE DAY OF YOUR VISIT

On the day of your appointment, you will fill out paperwork; have lab work done; and meet with an educator.  The educator will    discuss your options with you, as well as, the entire abortion process, after-care instructions, birth control options and to address any of your concerns. Generally your appointment will last 2-3 hours.

Acceptable Forms of ID & Approved Documents

The documents listed below are acceptable forms of identification to verify the following for the teen obtaining the abortion and the parent/guardian:

Teens must prove their age by bringing one of the following: a state issued photo ID; driver’s license; passport, green card or certificate of naturalization; or school ID with birth certificate.

If you are exempt from parental notification, other documents will be required:

If married or divorced: you must bring a state issued marriage license or divorce certificate.

If you have a dependent child: you must bring the child’s birth certificate.

If you have a judicial bypass: you must bring an official copy or the original bypass.

Parents must verify their identity by providing:

• Photo ID* with name**
• Your child’s birth certificate

Legal Guardians must verify their identity by providing:

• A certified Letter of Guardianship from the state
• Photo ID* with name matching guardianship papers
• Your child’s birth certificate

* This can be a state issued ID; driver’s license; passport, green card or certificate of naturalization.

** If last name is different than child’s, then provide proof for difference in name (i.e. marriage certificate or other state issued document showing name change)

FOLLOW-UP

After your visit, you may need to follow up with your provider.  This visit may include an ultrasound, blood test or other follow-up work.

FEES AND SERVICES

The fees for services include:

• Medication
• Pregnancy Testing and Ultrasound
• Follow-Up Exam and Ultrasound
• 24 Hour On-Call Nurse
• Options Education
• Lab Work

Additional Fees:

• Blood Type: Women who have a negative blood type will need an injection of Rhogam.  There is a charge for this injection.
• Medications: Patients will be prescribed medications to assist them after the abortion process.  They are available in generic form and are available for a nominal price at the pharmacy.

Judicial Bypass Contact Information

Below, you will find contact information for the relevant court offices at county courthouses in our service area:

Palm Beach County Courthouse
Juvenile Department, Rm 3.22, 3rd Floor
205 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, Fl
561-355-2996

Martin County Courthouse
Juvenile Department, 2nd Floor
100 SE Ocean Boulevard
Stuart, Fl
772-288-5576

Indian River Courthouse*
1st Floor
2000 16th Avenue
Vero Beach, Fl
772-770-5185

Broward County Courthouse
Rm 444
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Fl
954-831-6565

Miami-Dade County Courthouse*
Juvenile Court
3300 N.W. 27 Ave. Rm. 100
Miami, Fl
305-638-6227

*You must reside in the county in order to receive the judicial bypass from this courthouse

Join us from 6-8pm at Splitsville in Sunset Place for a night of bowling, billiards, great food, a 50/50 raffle… and fundraising for a great cause!

The National Network for Abortion Funds has been organizing bowl-a-thons across the country for the past few years, and WEN is excited to join in the action this year! In order to make this night a success, we need your help! Sign up to join to create a bowling team, and ask your friends, family and co-workers to sign up to join your bowl, or sponsor your team!

We’re asking for a minimum donation of $50/person, and trust us, it will be well worth it!

If you’d like to sign up as an individual, no worries! Just click here, and you can sign up to bowl and find an awesome team to join!

Can’t make it to the Bowl-A-Thon, but still want to show your support? Awesome! You can become a Sponsor, or Make a Donation to WEN!

To find out more about becoming a sponsor, email Jennifer@wen-online.org.

Help WEN kick off 2012 with our new 12 for 12 campaign! Help us reach our goal of adding 12 new supporters a month, and set up a minimum monthly donation of $12 in 2012!

Why? WEN has been around since 1989 helping low income women in South Florida with resources to fund reproductive services. WEN is expanding our mission to reach more women and add new programming, and we need your help! WEN has extremely low overhead, so you can be assured that your donation will go towards those who need it most.

And, if you have been a member for awhile, why not help us find 12 new supporters this year? Commit to asking friends to help support the great work of WEN.

Set up your monthly donation now. Join our 12 for 12 campaign!