Missouri group sends out thousands of emergency contraceptive kits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A nonprofit is sending thousands of emergency contraception kits to Missourians across the state in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Missouri was the first state to ban abortion after the 2022 decision. Since then, the Missouri Family Health Council says they are trying to make it clear that emergency contraception is legal and are fighting this misinformation by offering kits to anyone who needs them.

“Emergency contraception will not interrupt an existing pregnancy; it is a form of birth control,” said Ashely Kuykendall, executive director of the Missouri Family Health Council.

Each kit includes two doses of emergency contraception, safer sex supplies, sexual health education, and connections to health care providers.

“If someone were to go buy emergency contraception without a prescription, if they got two doses like we have in our kits, it would probably cost them $100,” Kuykendall said.

Kuykendall said the project is funded through the Office of Population Affairs Title X program and the Right Time Initiative through the Missouri Foundation for Health.

Over the past year, the group distributed more than 25,000 kits for free by mail or to one of the municipality’s 80 public partners.

“I think in the current state, in the current policy environment, it’s even more important to make sure that people, regardless of zip code, income level, or insurance status, have access to preventive health care resources, and the bottom line is that those can be very difficult . to gain access,” Kuykendall said.

This all comes at a time when voters could decide later this year to overturn the state’s abortion ban. Last month, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom delivered more than 380,000 signatures to the secretary of state in hopes of putting abortion rights on the ballot later this year.

“What I would ask everyone to understand is to read the language for themselves about what is being put forward, because it is very extreme and requires taxpayer funding for abortion up until birth, and I don’t think any Missourian agrees with that,” Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, said.

Coleman, who is running for secretary of state, was behind the Heartbeat bill to ban abortion in Missouri. She said in an interview that she believes there is fear-mongering to mislead voters.

“It is currently legal in the state of Missouri to receive infertility treatment through IVF (in vitro fertilization),” Coleman said. “It is currently legal in the state of Missouri to use birth control; it is currently legal in Missouri to take the morning-after pill.”

Whatever the decision later this year, the Family Health Council does not expect a drop in demand.

“Regardless of what happens with abortion legislation, people will need emergency contraception because we know it is a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of pregnancy and that is why we want to continue to do everything we can to ensure it is available to people remains accessible and affordable. who need it,” Kuykendall said.

For more information about the kits or to find a partner location, visit the Missouri Family Health Council website.

On the abortion issue, the secretary of state is expected to announce next month whether advocates have collected the 172,000 signatures needed to bring the amendment to a vote in November.