Happy Mother's Day!

Her.meneutics article: "Family Planning Through A Global Lens," by Jenny Eaton Dyer, Ph.D.

Christianity Today's Her.meneutics features articles that are at the interface of women's issues and cultural issues. We were proud to have the opportunity to publish an article this week discussing the importance of access to contraception and information about a variety of family planning methods, including fertility awareness, in the developing world. These are life-saving, life-changing tools for women and families. 

In a season when contraception is debated and discussed in our own nation, it is important to consider how contraception is a pro-life cause worldwide.

U.S. Moms Support Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide this Mother's Day

This week, Hope Through Healing Hands launched a press release citing notable faith leaders, influentials, and parents who have taken a stand to promote awareness and advocacy for maternal, newborn, and child health. 

Amy Grant, Grammy-winning Artist, notes: “Those of us who have experienced healthy pregnancies here in the U.S. need to remember how uniquely fortunate we are. For the most part, we get to choose when and how we give birth, and we have all the health care we need before, during, and after delivery. In other parts of the world, the reality is tragically different. It is estimated that 1 in 39 pregnant women in Africa died in childbirth in 2013.”

We are excited to share all the leaders who have generously offered their endorsements to the coalition. We invite you to take a moment to read about why they are speaking up for women in the developing world.

Speaking Engagements: Why Family Planning is Critical in the Developing World

Over the course of the past month, Executive Director Jenny Dyer, Ph.D. had the opportunity to speak at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on "Ethiopia's Investments in Family Planning: Lessons for U.S. Policy" along with other experts. Dyer spoke on the interface of faith and health pertaining to healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies in the developing world and its role in awareness and education both in Ethiopia as well as the United States.

We invite you to learn more about her trip to Ethiopia as well as the event. Please see the "Family Planning and Linkages with U.S. Health and Development Goals" policy paper as well as the video showcasing the amazing work done there in family planning.

Dyer also spoke at ETSU's College of Public Health on "Saving Mother and Child: Why Planning Families is Critical in Developing Nations." She offered a lecture to students and faculty that can be viewed here.

We wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day,

Bill Frist Signature

Bill Frist, MD