There are many ways to engage and get involved in the work to bring awareness and improve reproductive health care and overall wellbeing for people experiencing incarceration. We suggest these actions steps to encourage learning, promote advocacy, and enact change:
- Connect with organizations in your community that are supporting current and formerly incarcerated women.
- Learn from directly impacted people about their experiences and the work they are leading to make change (see especially the National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Girls and Women).
- Get involved in advocacy to pass laws that prohibit shackling of pregnant people, provide access to menstrual materials, improve health care conditions, and invest in alternatives to incarceration.
- If you are a health care professional, provide health care or medical consultation directly to incarcerated people; if you care for incarcerated patients at your community clinic or hospital, model respectful, compassionate, non-judgmental care.
