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Reproductive Well‑Being

What is Reproductive Well-Being?

Reproductive well-being means that all people have equitable access to the information, services, and support they need to have control over their bodies, and to make their own decisions related to sexuality and reproduction throughout their lives. 

This powerful idea, if shared by everyone, would dramatically change the care people receive, the opportunities available to them, and the systems of support that surround them. But it is not reality—or even a shared idea or priority—today. Too many people—especially those who are young, economically disadvantaged, facing racism and discrimination, or otherwise marginalized—lack the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to have or raise a child. We have an urgent imperative to build, align, and enhance the systems that support people, and to create a culture of equity, empowerment, and autonomy.    

The four pillars are autonomy, control, respect, and system of support. Each is connected and has a definition next to it.

Narratives guide what people think, believe, and do. They influence mindsets and shape cultural norms and expectations and can be created through collection of stories and lived experiences. Using interviews and focus group data to develop a reproductive well-being narrative, four core pillars emerged specifically centered on autonomy, agency, and empowerment. 

Overall, narratives can be a powerful tool of social change, shifting assumptions and mindsets to create demand for new actions. The Reproductive Well-Being narrative is no exception. 

Reproductive Well-Being In Place-Based Work

In addition to a National Blueprint for Action and a shared narrative framework, a place-based implementation toolkit was developed. The aim of the toolkit is to transform the way in which health care is delivered and conceptualized by incorporating best practices in sexual and reproductive health, preconception health, and contraceptive care and access, as well as broader systems and coordination support.

Tools to Facilitate Reproductive Well-Being
Action Areas for Place-Based Work

Efforts to advance reproductive well-being in communities centers on four areas of action to help build a culture and systems of support in a local community.

  1. Health Equity refers to building a culture of health in a community for all of its members, where everyone has the opportunity to live their best life.
  2. Policy refers to the laws, regulations, and protocols in a community.
  3. Education & Communication refers to the efforts within a community to share information and knowledge.
  4. Health Care Delivery refers to medical care and public health in a community.
Shared Learning Collaborative

Power to Decide convenes a Shared Learning Collaborative of place-based, multisectoral teams committed to building a system of support for reproductive well-being in their regions or communities. Through technical assistance and customized coaching, Power to Decide provides support to each team to:

  • Build their capacity to establish a collaborative approach to implementing a portfolio of evidence-informed interventions that support reproductive well-being.
  • Develop and implement a plan to lead a collective impact effort to increase reproductive well-being in their communities.
  • Foster and catalyze innovation through participation in a learning community.
  • Collect and share learnings, stories, and innovations to seed and inform collective impact work in additional locations around the nation.
Additional Resources
A photo of Doug Emhoff speaking with a roundtable of people who support reproductive health in Nebraska.
April 24, 2024

Meeting with the Second Gentleman

A member of our Shared Learning Collaborative recently spoke with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff about the importance of reproductive health.
A diverse group of people sit in a circle and discuss.
April 21, 2022

Improving RWB from Within the Community

Read how three of our eight teams are working to improve the reproductive well-being of their communities and the challenges they’re overcoming to do so.
Three young woman link arms and laugh.
December 9, 2020

Helping Missourians Achieve RWB

Executive Director of Missouri Family Health Council, Michelle Trupiano discusses her work to help improve the reproductive health of Missouri.

Supporting Community's Reproductive Well-Being

A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for Omaha.
A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for Florida A&M University (FAMU).
A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for New Orleans.
A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for Oakland.
A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for Tampa-Hillsborough County..
A group photo of the Shared Learning Collaborative team for University of Texas at Arlington-Tarrant County.

To build a system of support for reproductive well-being in communities across the country, we convened a Shared Learning Collaborative of six place-based teams. Each of these teams are cross-sectoral (e.g., public health, education, economic development, social services, etc.) and include youth representation.

The teams represent: 

  • Omaha, Nebraska
  • Oakland, California
  • Florida A&M University (FAMU), Florida
  • Tampa-Hillsborough County, Florida
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • University of Texas at Arlington-Tarrant County, Texas
The logo for Power to Decide's Beyond the Sheets program.

Campus Sexual Health

One way we create culture change is by supporting HBCU student success. Beyond the Sheets is a student-led initiative that empowers undergraduates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to take control of their sexual and reproductive well-being.

Learn More
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The Contraceptive Equity Initiative

The Contraceptive Equity Initiative (CEI) is an effort from Power to Decide to use our expertise, tools, and assets to address barriers to birth control access. We serve as the convener, facilitator, and catalyst for a CEI shared learning collaborative. This collaborative has convened leaders from state and regional contraceptive access projects to foster shared learning, synergy, and efficiency.

Explore More

Do you want to learn more about the national Reproductive Well-Being Movement or how to improve reproductive well-being in your community? Read all our blogs on our reproductive well-being work.

We’d love to hear how you are championing reproductive well-being in your community. Email us.