Advocacy

Women of Means defines advocacy with a broad brush.

On a daily basis Women of Means nursing staff provide outreach and advocacy services. They help patients apply for Medicaid coverage, find transportation for the women to get to referral appointments and even accompany the women on appointments.

Registering to vote

Voter registration

Women of Means works to find creative interventions for the women. Through grant funding, Women of Means nurses screen for oral health, providing health education along with toothbrushes/toothpaste/floss. Similarly, Women of Means has found a corporate partner to assist in providing free vision testing for some patients and another company that generously makes glasses for the women.

Speaking engagements and presentations to professional medical groups help extend the message of making health care accessible for all. Dr. Means encourages doctors to consider volunteerism and community service.

The organization collaborates with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and the Caucus of Women Legislators to offer a voter registration project. From registering women to vote, to explaining voter rights and offering rides to the polls, the project has meaningful results. On election days, Women of Means staff and volunteers team up with shelter staff  to help the women get rides to the polls.