Every Pennsylvanian Deserves Access to Contraception & Abortion Care
We conduct rigorous research to identify the most effective policies, practices, and communication strategies for expanding access to contraception and abortion in Pennsylvania.
Why Pennsylvania?
Too many Pennsylvanians face barriers to essential reproductive healthcare services, like contraception and abortion. Pennsylvania currently enforces several abortion restrictions and has yet to adopt the policy strategies other states are increasingly using to expand contraceptive access. This moment calls for bold, inclusive, evidence-driven solutions.
We are here to generate evidence that can catalyze meaningful change in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s mix of Democratic and Republican leadership reflects the wide range of perspectives seen across the country. Developing and implementing strategies that are politically feasible and responsive to Pennsylvanians’ diverse needs, perspectives, and lived experiences will provide valuable insights that can be applied to a variety of state and regional contexts.
Our Approach
Use the icons below to explore the three objectives of PA Catalyst
Guide Policy and Practice
Address Stigma
Pave the way
Guide Policy and Practice
All Pennsylvanians should be able to make their own decisions about if, when, and under what circumstances to have children. Making this fundamental human right a reality begins with evidence-driven policies and practices.
We are conducting policy analyses and implementation science studies to identify effective strategies for expanding access to care in Pennsylvania. These efforts will generate actionable, evidence-based insights into which policies and practices work, for whom, and under what conditions they can meaningfully Pennsylvanians’ reproductive health needs.
Address Stigma and Misinformation
Policies and practices do not exist in isolation - they are shaped by knowledge, attitudes, and core values within their broader environments. To better understand the hearts and minds of Pennsylvanians, we are conducting research on the norms, narratives, and lived experiences that influence knowledge and attitudes towards abortion and contraception.
Using a state-wide survey and innovative qualitative approaches, including social media analysis and conversational journaling, we will generate valuable communication insights. These findings will guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of a statewide messaging strategy that reflects Pennsylvanians' core values, increases knowledge, and reduces stigma towards abortion and contraception.
Pave the Way for Future Initiatives
As PA Catalyst unfolds, we will continuously document the inner working of this initiative to capture the challenges we face, the barriers we overcome, and the strategies that contribute to our success. We will translate these lessons into a practical blueprint that researchers, policymakers, and organizers in other states can use to drive sustainable access to contraception and abortion in their own communities.
