Secretaries' Innovation Group

Overview of the situation after the election on the Hill and on the ground - November 2022 
Welfare, Marriage and Abortions
   Robert Rector, Heritage Foundation 

  • We have the top right-of-center thinkers, researchers and congressional subcommittee directors to join us for a comprehensive look at where we are now and what we should focus on post-election. Polls look good - - Republicans to sweep all before us!


Reductions in Abortions - December 2019
​* Upstream USA

​   Liz O'Neill, Upstream USA

  • Less than a decade ago Delaware had the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in the country. Unplanned pregnancies have dropped so fast that it has produced a separate related benefit - - reduced abortions. Between 2014 and 2017 Delaware’s abortion rate fell by 37 percent - - by far the greatest drop in the country. There is now only about one abortion for every 100 women of childbearing age each year in the state. Mark Edwards of Upstream is responsible for implementing former governor Jack Markell’s introduction of easy access to long acting reversible contraceptives such as IUDs throughout the state.


Reductions in Unplanned Pregnancies - June 2018

​* Upstream USA
   Mark Edwards, Co-Founder, Upstream

  • In 2014 Mark Edwards of Upstream shared with SIG members their organization’s initiative to reduce unplanned pregnancies through the greater availability and use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).  For the past two years his organization has worked with the cooperation of Delaware and has some recent remarkable news - - Child Trends reports an estimated decrease in unplanned pregnancies among Title X patients between 2014 and 2016 of 15 percent, as compared to a nationwide 1.3 percent decrease. Mark will describe how these Delaware results were achieved.  


Update on LARCs - June 2016

Upstream USA

   Mark Edwards, Co-Founder, Upstream USA

  • In November several secretaries expressed interest in long acting reversible contraceptives (e.g. IUDs), but asked for more information about prospective costs and implementation particulars with their public health partners.  Mark will provide a short update on recent implementation results and provide an action plan with costs for those wish to explore the next step.

                   

Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) - November 2015

* Improving Access to IUDs and Implants as a Pathway to Decreasing Costs, Increasing Educational Attainment,        and Expanding Opportunity in America
  Mark Edwards, CEO, Upstream

​* Unintended Pregnancy in the United States

  • Mr. Haskins will discuss the proven reductions in unwanted pregnancies resulting from proper counseling and availability of LARCs (e.g. IUDs).  Mr. Edwards runs a national organization which trains for and implements state LARC initiatives in conjunction with human service and Medicaid agencies.    


Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) - June 2015

LARC Presentation

   Ron Haskins, Co-Director, Center on Children and Families, Brookings Institution
Improving Family Planning as a Pathway to Decreasing Costs, Increasing Educational Attainment, and  

   Expanding Opportunity in America

   Mark Edwards, CEO, Upstream
​* Upstream USA​
Cost as a Barrier to Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Use in Adolescents

  • Mr. Haskins will discuss the proven reductions in unwanted pregnancies resulting from proper counseling and availability of LARCs (e.g. IUDs).  Mr. Edwards runs a national organization which trains for and implements state LARC initiatives in conjunction with human service and Medicaid agencies.  


November 2014​         

Generation Unbound: Drifting Into Sex and Parenthood without Marriage

   Isabel Sawhill, Co-Director, Center on Children and Families, Brookings Institution

  • ​Author of Generation Unbound:  Drifting into Sex and Parenthood without Marriage






Conference Materials: Preventing Unplanned Pregnancies

**To view power point presentations and supporting materials, click on * bold, underlined title.