As we step into 2025, Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) is proud to celebrate a momentous milestone—our affiliate’s 90th anniversary! For nearly a century, we have held an enduring commitment to providing high-quality, comprehensive reproductive health services. Thanks to your unwavering support, we continue to make progress, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.
In Missouri, history was made as more than 1.5 million voters passed Amendment 3 in November, making Missouri the first state post- Dobbs to overturn a total abortion ban through a citizen-led ballot measure. This is a groundbreaking victory that would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom (MCF) coalition and, of course, dedicated advocates like you.
While this victory is cause for celebration, there is still work ahead. In Missouri, we are focused on bringing legal challenges to dismantle lingering abortion restrictions, while also making vital improvements to our health centers. Together, we can restore access to care and ensure Missourians have the reproductive health services they deserve in their home state once again.
In Kansas, we expanded access by opening a new health center in Pittsburg on August 19. The community has been incredibly welcoming, and this health center has already become a critical resource for patients from the Midwest and South seeking our care. As we reflect on this accomplishment, we are reminded of the growing demand for accessible, compassionate care across the Great Plains region.
This anniversary year is an opportunity to honor how far we’ve come and to recommit ourselves to the future. With your continued support, we can expand access, confront challenges head-on, and ensure that PPGP remains a reliable source of hope and care in your community for decades to come.
Thank you for standing with us in this critical work and for helping us mark 90 years of advancing reproductive freedom. Here’s to a year of progress, resilience, and impact—together.
Sincerely,
Emily Wales President and CEO
PERSISTENCE IN CARE, POWER IN COMMUNITY
The continual commitment and strength of the PPGP community is what has allowed us to continue caring for our patients across the region. We are incredibly thankful for the ongoing financial support from each and every one of you. Without your donations we would not be able to meet our Great Plains community where they’re at. DONATE TODAY!
MISSOURIANS MAKE HISTORY
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ENSHRINED IN CONSTITUTION AND LEGAL ACTION UNDERWAY TO REESTABLISH ABORTION ACCESS
In 2024, more than 1.5 million Missourians made history by passing Amendment 3. Making Missouri the first state to overturn an abortion ban through a citizen-led ballot measure, it is clear that the people have spoken: abortion is a fundamental right.
Within 24 hours of this victory, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains (CHPPGP), Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, and the ACLU sued to block the state’s abortion bans, and the medically unnecessary restrictions that have made this care inaccessible for the better part of a decade. Less than a month after the new right took effect, a state court enjoined Missouri’s abortion bans as well as the vast majority of the TRAP laws our lawsuit challenged. However, the abortion restrictions remaining in effect – including Missouri’s discriminatory clinic licensing requirement – make it impossible for CHPPGP to offer abortion care at this time. Staff at our Columbia and Kansas City, Missouri health centers will continue providing other family planning services while we wait for further legal updates. To that end, CHPPGP’s expert staff is ready to immediately start providing the abortion care Missourians deserve – right here at home.
BUILDING ON KANSAS SUCCESS, EXPANDING ACCESS IN MISSOURI
Thanks to your support, CHPPGP continues to achieve critical milestones in Kansas. In August 2024, we proudly opened the Pittsburg Health Center, providing patients in Southeast Kansas with expanded access to compassionate, high-quality reproductive health care. This new health center is a testament to our commitment to meeting the unique needs of the communities we serve, and this could not have happened without the generous support of donors, most of whom have come from within our region! As we celebrate these advancements in Kansas, we are shifting our focus to addressing urgent needs in Missouri. Missourians voted in November to overturn the state’s total abortion ban, and CHPPGP is currently involved in a legal effort to determine when and how we can resume abortion services in the state. For now, we remain dedicated to laying the groundwork to meet the growing demand for care, ensuring that we are fully prepared to provide services once the legal landscape changes. Investments are essential to enhance infrastructure, train additional team members, and expand access to care across the state.
Your timely support will enable CHPPGP to meet the growing demand for abortion care and ensure that every patient, no matter their circumstances, can access the care they deserve.
PPGP IN PITTSBURG
In living out our commitment to providing care to as many people as possible, we are proud to have opened our new Pittsburg, Kansas health center in August. This new health center bridges an important gap in access to comprehensive reproductive health services for underserved populations of Southeast Kansas, and patients across the Midwest and South who turn to us for abortion access.
We’re already seeing the impact this health center is making for patients and our teams as we navigate this politician-made health care crisis. Since opening, we’ve served 865 unique patients in Pittsburg. As expected, this new health center opened up access for patients who previously would have traveled hours farther for care, including Arkansans who have heavily relied on our new location. Expanding our services to this area not only addresses the immediate needs we are facing, but also moves the entire region towards a healthier future.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those funders and supporters who made the project possible, as we celebrate this significant achievement. Your unwavering support has made this expansion possible, and we are thrilled to see the positive impact it is already having on the communities we serve. Together, we are creating a future where everyone has access to the care they need, regardless of their location or circumstances.
Thank you for your continued support and for standing with us as we work to expand access to essential health services. The Pittsburg health center is a shining example of what we can achieve together, and a vital resource for those seeking support and guidance. We look forward to continuing this important work with your help.
milestone for our community.
This new facility allows us to bring vital reproductive health services closer to home for many individuals who have faced significant barriers to care. We’re proud to be part of a community effort that prioritizes accessible, compassionate care for all of our neighbors.”
The opening of the Pittsburg health center is an important step forward in expanding access to essential reproductive health care.
This new facility allows us to offer compassionate, comprehensive services to even more individuals. This clinic helps decrease travel time for our out –of- state patients and bridge gaps in care for our communities in Southeast Kansas.”
The Kansas Clinical Family Planning Fellowship (KCFP), founded by Drs. Iman Alsaden and Selina Sandoval, has been pivotal in addressing the nationwide shortage of skilled abortion providers. This program not only equips physicians with the expertise to deliver complex, high-quality reproductive health care but also fosters leadership in the field.
The program isn’t only training highly skilled providers; it’s also helping expand access in Kansas for the long term. Dr. Lydia Prevost and Dr. Darshan Patel both decided to stay with us following completion of their fellowships. Dr. Prevost is providing full-time with CHPPGP and overseeing in Pittsburg’s training program, and Dr. Patel will join CHPPGP as a staff physician and clinical leader in Wichita after completing his fellowship. He will also play a pivotal role in opening our new surgical health center in 2025. Additionally, we are proud to share that Dr. Kellye McGuire has been recognized with CHPPGP’s 2024 Outstanding Trainee Award for her dedication to advancing reproductive health and providing patient-centered care. These underscore the fellowship’s impact on training and retaining exceptional providers, something unique among Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country. Your support helps sustain programs like KCFP, ensuring patients across Kansas, Missouri, and beyond have access to compassionate, high-quality care.
CELEBRATING KANSAS CLINICAL FAMILY PLANNING FELLOWSHIP SUCCESS SUPPORTING FLORIDA PROVIDERS, EXPANDING CARE TOGETHER
Responding to a national crisis in abortion access has required us to think differently and find innovative ways to expand services. In partnership with Planned Parenthood of South, East & North Florida (PPSENFL), we’ve welcomed a group of Florida nurses to our team in Kansas to help meet patients’ needs. Experienced nurses from Florida joined our skilled team members in Overland Park to cross-train and help fill critical staff positions during a time of unprecedented patient demand. This collaboration has strengthened our ability to provide essential care and has demonstrated what we already knew to be true: we best support patients when we partner closely with others in this fight, including sister affiliates like PPSENFL.
“Working in the shared nursing program has truly reminded me why I became a nurse in the first place. This experience has given me a fresh perspective and deepened my appreciation for the incredible work Planned Parenthood affiliates are doing across the country. I’ve grown so much as a nurse, learning from the team there, and I can already see valuable resources and processes from CHPPGP that would benefit our team at PPSENFL. It’s been an invaluable exchange of knowledge and care.”
Nurse Naphta
“Joining the shared nursing program at CHPPGP has been such a deeply rewarding experience. From the moment I arrived, the team made me feel welcomed and fully supported. It feels incredible to continue providing compassionate care to patients further along in their pregnancies, ensuring they have access to the resources and attention they deserve. Sometimes, you take these services for granted—this rotation has really opened my eyes. One day, you’re delivering care in your state that seems like a basic right for every patient, and the next, you’re crossing state lines to provide the same care that used to be part of your daily routine. It’s humbling to see such different patient cases and situations, but it’s also frustrating. It doesn’t make sense that access to care is now determined by what state you live in. Our Florida patients no longer have the same access, and that’s heartbreaking.”
Nurse Ibett
PPGP SHOWS UP FOR THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
In 2024, Planned Parenthood Great Plains was out and proud at Pride events across the region, including Tulsa Pride, where our staff and volunteers connected directly with our incredible community members. Pride isn’t just a one-day celebration for us – it’s a year-round commitment to ensuring everyone has access to compassionate, inclusive health care, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.
And let’s talk about a major highlight: this fall, we welcomed THE Laverne Cox to THE Event! Her powerful voice reminded us why this work is so vital and why we refuse to back down. Beyond the parades and applause, our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community includes offering gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy, STI testing and treatment, and general wellness care. Our health centers are safe spaces where patients can show up exactly as they are and know they’ll be met with respect and care.
The fight isn’t done, and neither are we. As attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community continue, we’re showing up stronger than ever – at Pride, in our clinics, and alongside advocates like Laverne.
With your support, we can continue to ensure every individual has the resources to live boldly, beautifully, and authentically. Help us keep the love (and the fight) going.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION
Our education team provides communities with accurate, compassionate reproductive health information and empowers individuals through events like Understanding Reproductive Health Care & Amendment 3, where participants explored the differences between birth control, emergency contraception, and abortion care, and The Witching Hour: Sex Ed Uncensored, which brought together experts for a candid Q&A on sexual health. We’re also thrilled to welcome Keryeé Morton, our new Community Educator, based in Oklahoma. Keryeé joins Rachel Stoutamire, our Manager of Education and Community Partnerships, on a team committed to empowering individuals through comprehensive sex education. Stay tuned to see how our educators create safe spaces for learning and empowerment across the region throughout 2025.
