Case Study: Essential Access Health

Kayla Principato 

Case Study: Activism through Research at E-Central Access Health 

What

Essential Access Health (E-Central Access) 

A National Institute of Health Contraceptive Clinical Trial Network. 

When 

1968- Present 

Where

Los Angeles, CA

Practitioners

Wax Man Lobby Group (based in DC working on lobbying strategies) 

Birth Control 

Planned Parenthood

Black women for wellness

NFPRHA 

Office of Family Planning

LA LGBT

Further Insight 

Essentialaccesshealth.org

E-central access began in California and originally named Family Health Council (CFHC) incorporated in 1968. It began with numerous Los Angeles organizations wrapped into one which later came together to form Essential Access Health. 

Essential Access Health is a National Institute of Health Contraceptive Clinical Trial Network.

The mission of E-Central Access is that it “champions and promotes quality and sexual and reproductive health care for all.” They pride themselves in having professional sexual reproductive health clinical trials of birth control fund planned parenthood. Erin Moore is a researcher for forms of contraceptive. She is in the lab and researches different contraceptive methods for people. Essential Access Health collaborates with partners across the county to support the delivery of quality sexual and reproductive health care nationwide. 

Essential Access Health has offices in Northern and Southern California. Their dedicated staff of 70 employees has a wide range of expertise in the field of sexual and reproductive health – as researchers, trainers, policy experts, health care leaders, and more. “Our entire team is committed to advancing our mission to champion and promote quality sexual and reproductive health care for all.”

The research division has clinical trials for new methods of contraception and quality control perception to monitor which clinics are using what kinds of birth control in the state and how they can improve their methods. The pill is most common form of contraceptive used by women even though IUD’s and implants are statistically more effective. Clinicians training and medical assistant and nurse training are available and encouraged for people that work at family health clinics. 

E-Central Access trains people on various birth control methods in order to help people choose which methods is best option for them. Essential Access health has an annual family women health update. During this update they release the latest research on the most effective practices in women’s health care. This organization takes activism to a new level by training the general public with courses they can take online.

Theories

Environmental Justice (228)

Environmental justice theory is the connection between social justice and environmental issues we can effectively challenge abuses of power that target indigenous and economic, and politically marginalized communities. Reproductive rights and health care is a prevalent issue in today’s society especially after the election of Donald Trump. People are scared of what will happen to their rights and health care. The issue of birth control and abortions is something that has been protested against especially in the Women’s March throughout the United States.

Action Logic (208)

Action logic is a theory that describes that the logic is obvious and clear. “action logic creates powerful stories that move hearts and change minds. This theory states that “Actions speak louder than words” and that it is important for the actions of a movement speak for themselves. It is a simple theory that is able to be understood by people because it is straight forward. This case study speaks for itself because the work and research that Erin Moore is creating is straight forward is meant for people to understand and adopt. Their actions portray activism because the researchers are in the lab everyday searching for new methods for people. 

The Social Cure (264)

What moves us? Peer Pressure. These pressures are not always negative things in society. Peer pressure, involvement, passion, and rage is what gets people motivated to make a change. E-central access pushes safe sex and finding the correct birth control method for each person. Through their research and lab tests that they conduct they are able to push others to pursue health care, birth control, and stand up for their rights. 

Practitioners

Their advocating is mostly available through social media. The E-Central access health organization has an extensive research and media outlets available. E-Central access health centers their activism and policy work by getting people organized to call, march and write letters. Erin Moore calls senators from other states. “In California, the senators are willing to talk to most people and tell them how to vote.” They get people to call about the American Health Care Act. Erin called people in Arizona and Nevada to tell them to vote no on the new health care bill. States that aren't as lenient there is a lot that they can do. The employees call congress people voting against most peoples agendas. The senators she talked personally too stated that “your voice and vote counts” and give these workers respect because they are voicing their freedom of speech for free birth control. E-Central Access Health has many national practitioners and sponsors that transform their research and work onto a larger national scale. 

Key Principles

Seek Common Ground (170)  

“In search of allies and points of agreement, we must grow comfortable adopting the rhetoric of worldview we might otherwise oppose.” The website for E-central access health welcomes outsiders to learn and become informed about birth control, contraception, and overall health care. Their informative website and contact information is easily accessible and easy to comprehend. They want to help people and have open lines of communication, people are encouraged to talk to them. Their goals are to “seek common ground” and get as many people involved as they can. 

Enable, Don’t Command (132)

“supporting, enabling leaders awaken the creative potential of participants.” Innovation and creativity soars when using the enabling leader approach. Essential access health has specific sections on their website that make people capable of educating others when choosing the correct form of birth control. Enable, don’t command is demonstrated through their goals to teach people in person and online how to choose the correct form of birth control and help others learn to help other people through the same process. 

Team Up with Experts (184) 

“Cultivating a fluid, symbiotic relationship between activists and experts is key to organizing effective interventions into complex issues.” Essential Access health teams up with large organizations like Planned Parenthood, Birth Control, Office of Family Planning, NFPRHA, and many more. Their partnerships are a main reason why they can promote activism through their research. E-central access health is able to use the wide spread knowledge and power that the bigger companies have to advertise and promote the research they do making it accessible to people on a national level. 

Why it Works

People in the United States are unsure of what health care policies and coverage will look like under President Trump. Many people do not have health care or do not have the knowledge of using contraceptions and ensuring safe sex. Essential Access health gives people the opportunity to learn and teach others through their research. People are given the proper training and education in order to ensure safe sex and exercise their rights to free health care. 

New Principle Used 

The More You Know, Knowledge is Power

“Knowledge as a form of activism.”

Spreading awareness through research and helping to improve social conditions while promoting activism. The research done by Erin Moore and E-central access health promotes safe sex and birth control. Their research is the pioneer of how they determine what works for people all over the world. 

Sex Ed for All  

“Activism through health options”

This principle would have to start locally in Los Angeles, and then leak out into other parts of the world. E-Central access health will choose advocates go into low income areas and to promote birth control and safe sex. Distribute speakers, events, and visits to different neighborhood demographics and exemplify the importance of health care and birth control. Have a set of “faces” or advocates for the industry and use them to promote the importance of birth control and having the correct type of birth control for their personal preference.