2015 speak fact sheet

122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite 510, Minneapolis, MN 55404 | Phone: 612-871-3759 | Fax: 612-230-3257 | www.wellshareinternational.org

Projects | WellShare International’s domestic

reproductive health program, SPEAK, includes two projects:

the Somali Child Spacing Program and the Karen Family

Planning Program.

Approach | Using a community-based, client-centered

approach, Somali and Karen community health workers

(CHWs) work with their community, invested stakeholders

and partners, and local providers and professionals in hopes

that Somali and Karen communities in Minnesota will:

Have greater access to and uptake of reproductive

health resources, including contraceptive methods

Receive more culturally appropriate health and family

planning services

Experience increased success in achieving their

reproductive health goals

Partake in better reproductive health outcomes,

including reduced unintended pregnancy

Since 2004, WellShare International has reached

over 25,000 immigrants and refugees and

trained over 1,500 health care professionals

with culturally relevant reproductive health

education and resources.

Photo by Philip Bowen

In Minnesota | We are providing culturally appropriate reproductive health education and resources to

both the Somali and Karen communities, and to health care providers who serve them.

SPEAK

Educational Materials Available

DVD — Somali and English

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies II: Information

for Somali Families During and After

Pregnancy

Other Publications— Somali and English

Somali Decisions About Child Spacing Booklet

My Body: Human Reproductive Anatomy

CycleBeads Instructional Insert

Educational Tool — Karen and English

Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods

Reference Guide — English

Providing Culturally Appropriate Reproductive

Health and Family Planning Services to Somali

Immigrants and Refugees

More than 17,000 materials have

been distributed since 2004.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the

Minnesota Department of Health, Family Planning Special

Projects (FPSP).

Spacing Pregnancies Program for East African and Karen Communities