On June 27th, Dr. Jennifer Yarger, Assistant Researcher with Beyond the Pill, testified before the California State Assembly Select Committee on Women’s Reproductive Health in a hearing on Reproductive Health Care in California.
Dr. Yarger spoke about the ongoing need to address gaps in access to family planning services, particularly for adolescents and young adults, as well as low-income and uninsured women.
In her testimony, Dr. Yarger emphasized the importance of access to contraception, stating that: “Ensuring access to contraception is an integral part of women’s health care. The benefits of contraception are widely recognized, including empowering women to decide whether and when they will become pregnant.” She stressed the importance of public funding for family planning services to increase contraception education and access among these populations.
Dr. Yarger referenced her research among adolescents and young adults, including Beyond the Pill’s education and research initiatives among community college students in California.