Political Advocacy Groups

"The American Association of Birth Centers promotes and supports birth centers as a means to uphold the rights of healthy women and their families, in all communities, to birth their children in an environment which is safe, sensitive and cost effective with minimal intervention." (http://www.birthcenters.org/about-aabc/mission)

"Breast Cancer Action carries the voices of people affected by breast cancer to inspire and compel the changes necessary to end the breast cancer epidemic." (http://bcaction.org/about/mission-values/)

"The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization whose mission is to ensure that U.S. foreign policies and programs promote womenís and girlsí sexual and reproductive health within a human rights framework. CHANGE believes that every individual has the right to basic information, technologies, and services needed to enjoy a healthy and safe sexual and reproductive life free from coercion and preventable illness. CHANGE envisions a world where sexual and reproductive health and rights are universally recognized and sexual and reproductive health care is accessible and available to all." (http://www.genderhealth.org/about_us/our_mission_and_history/)

"Our mission is to improve the quality and value of maternity care through consumer engagement and health system transformation. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families." (http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10253) [Formerly known as Maternity Center Association]

"The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)." (http://www.ican-online.org/about)

"We are made up of pro-choice women and men across the United States. Together, we protect a woman's right to choose." (http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/about-us/)

"NBCC's mission is to eradicate breast cancer by focusing the administration, U.S. Congress, research institutions and consumer advocates on breast cancer. NBCC encourages all those concerned about this disease to become advocates for action and change. The Coalition informs, trains and directs patients and others in effective advocacy efforts. Nationwide, women and men are increasing the awareness of breast cancer public policy by participating in legislative, scientific and regulatory decisions, promoting positive media coverage and actively working to raise public awareness." (http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/about/index-1.html)

"The National Women's Health Network improves the health of all women by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues in order to affect policy and support consumer decision-making. The Network aspires to a health care system that is guided by social justice and reflects the needs of diverse women." (http://nwhn.org/about-national-womens-health-network)

"...The mission of Planned Parenthood is to provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual; to advocate public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services; to provide educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality; to promote research and the advancement of technology in reproductive health care and encourage understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral, and social implications." (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/vision-4837.htm)

"SWHR aims to bring attention to the myriad of diseases and conditions that affect women uniquely." (http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main)