EMPOWERING HBCU STUDENTS: BRIDGING GAPS IN SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
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Launched in 2023, "Beyond the Sheets" is an initiative spearheaded by Power to Decide aimed at addressing critical gaps in sexual and reproductive health services specifically within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). These institutions play a pivotal role in shaping the careers and futures of Black professionals, enrolling 10% of all Black college students, with women constituting 64% of this demographic.
The program operates on four guiding principles: listen, engage, mobilize, and influence. It utilizes social media platforms to initiate and facilitate discussions about sexual and reproductive health, creating a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. In addition to online engagement, "Beyond the Sheets" organizes campus events that promote awareness and provide access to safer sex materials and local health services.
A significant focus of the initiative is on peer advocacy and education. It empowers student ambassadors from participating HBCUs to disseminate accurate and trustworthy information about sexual and reproductive health within their campuses and communities. These ambassadors play a crucial role in bridging the gap caused by limited access to such resources, exacerbated by structural racism and healthcare disparities in many areas where HBCUs are located.
The program also confronts challenges posed by stringent reproductive rights laws in states where HBCUs operate, along with insufficient financial support for on-campus wellness facilities. Despite these obstacles, "Beyond the Sheets" aims to create sustainable change by empowering students to advocate for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health resources and policies that meet the needs of their diverse student populations.
Currently, the initiative involves ten student ambassadors from five HBCUs: Florida A&M University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, the University of the Virgin Islands, and Xavier University of Louisiana. These ambassadors are actively engaged in promoting sexual and reproductive well-being across their campuses and beyond. Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Chief Medical Officer at Power to Decide, highlighted the ambassadors' role in ensuring everyone has access to the resources and information necessary to advance sexual and reproductive health.
"Beyond the Sheets" represents a concerted effort to fill crucial gaps in sexual and reproductive health services at HBCUs through advocacy, education, and community engagement. By empowering student leaders and leveraging social media and campus events, the initiative aims to create a lasting impact on the well-being of Black college students and their communities.
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