Statements
Mission
Mission: A Step Ahead of Middle Tennessee prevents unplanned pregnancies by providing education about and access to free long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
Vision: A Step Ahead Foundation of Middle Tennessee improves educational, economic, and health outcomes for women and their children in Middle Tennessee. By providing access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), the most effective reversible methods of birth control, we hope to increase positive pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and the child, lower infant mortality, and improve family life. We hope to reduce economic strain and encourage career opportunities before child birth. We provide a means for women to plan each child and every step of her life through education and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
Background
A Step Ahead Foundation of Middle Tennessee (ASAFMT) began providing services to Davidson County residents in May 2016. Effective November 1, 2022, we offer our free healthcare services to any resident or student in 29 middle TN counties.
Our Model:
- Partner with federally qualified health centers
- Ensure medical providers are trained, certified, and ready to offer LARCs
- Manage a call center and online portal for potential clients to schedule appointments and ask questions
- Cover costs for well-woman exams, including pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, Pap tests, HIV tests, and contraception consultations
- Provide free LARC insertion of patient's choice of hormonal implant, or an intrauterine device (IUD) which can either be hormonal or nonhormonal based on the patient's preference; we are the payer of last resort, covering all costs not reimbursed by TennCare or a private insurer, as well as costs for uninsured individuals.
- Pay for door-to-door transportation to/from appointments in partnership with Lyft
- Provide free removal (including removal reminders) of the LARC device whenever the client is ready or when the LARC effectiveness expires
- Reach girls and women already using community services through our Partners in Prevention (PIP) program and other outreach events; this extensive outreach allows us to provide prevention education and generate awareness of our free LARC services throughout middle Tennessee.
Claudia Haltom founded a A Step Ahead Foundation (ASAF) in 2011 after 17 years as a Juvenile Court Judicial Magistrate in Memphis, TN. During her time on the bench, Haltom experienced many interactions with women who became pregnant while in school, dropped out, and became mothers before they said they were emotionally, physically, or financially ready. Before A Step Ahead Foundation, these young women did not have easy and affordable access to the most effective methods of reversible birth control. Claudia Haltom devoted her retirement to changing that and supporting women to plan their futures and achieve their goals and potential. Since its inception, ASAF has helped initiate in Shelby County one of the steepest declines in teen pregnancies and abortions.
Impact
Accomplishments in 2023:
1. Connected over 1,500 women to free contraceptive-healthcare services.
2. Achieved highly satisfied ratings across 98% of survey respondents, most all also saying we helped improve their overall well-being and increased their happiness.
3. Engaged with 6,165 middle Tennesseans through tabling events, community presentations or educational sessions.
4. Added 25 new partners to our education and referral network.
5. Partnered with the Family & Children Services-led TANF grant, Connecting Forward, to help establish a larger, systematic referral collaborative across Middle TN.
Needs
Needs statement:
1. Rural county committee members; connections to providers and organizations in rural counties
2. Funding for direct services: cost of IUDs, arm implants and related healthcare services when clients are seen at our clinic partners. One IUD cost $250, one arm implant cost $500.
3. Board members that identify as persons of color and/or live in counties outside of Davidson County (i.e. Lawrence, Montgomery, Sumner).
CEO Statement
Our organization is unique as we are able to tear down any barrier that would prevent a woman from receiving long-acting, reversible contraception. We partner with other non-profits already serving girls and women, and we offer our education and services as a resource to their clients. This strategy greatly enhances our partner organizations work by assisting women in preventing unplanned pregnancies. As we educate throughout the community about providing opportunities for women to plan their future, we let women know there are many options for planning if and when to have children and that cost should not be a barrier to them choosing a LARC. Outside of abstinence, LARC's are the most effective form of birth control and enable a woman to plan her family when ready. We are excited to see the impact we are having in the Middle Tennessee community and look forward to providing education and resources to women of all ages. Working for A Step Ahead has been an extremely rewarding experience, as I know that our program improves and enhances the lives of women and families in our community.
- Jenny Matthews, Executive Director
Board Chair Statement
A Step Ahead of Middle Tennessee provides women long-acting, reversible contraception which is 99% effective in a state where half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Regardless of income level, we provide this care for free. No woman will ever be turned away because they cannot pay. To reduce child poverty, we must slow down entries into poverty and not just speed up the exits and to date we have assisted 3,500 women in giving their children a better chance at upward mobility. As a result, women and children benefit as do taxpayers from decreased rates of unplanned pregnancies.
My work in the criminal justice system gave me a bird's eye view of the disastrous consequences that poverty, drug addiction and domestic violence can have on a child's well-being. Put simply, these things take the light out of childrens' eyes. After I saw Executive Director Jenny Matthews speak about A Step Ahead's mission in 2016, I knew that I had to get involved. Jenny's passion for her work is infectious and it was immediately apparent this non-profit was poised to make a tremendous impact in Tennessee. Eight years later, it is an honor to be board chair and learn from Jenny's all-female team about what it takes to be a robust leader in the field of contraceptive care.
Will you join me in making a donation that will forever change a woman's and child's life?
- Jenny Charles, Board President
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Health Care - Family Planning |
| Secondary Category: | Health Care - Reproductive Health Care |
| Tertiary Category: | Human Services - Pregnancy Centers |
Areas Served
29 counties in middle Tennessee:
Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Perry, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Lincoln |
| TN - Moore |
| TN - Perry |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Stewart |
