Contraception Access Program - Campaigns

Emergency Contraception (EC) Access Campaign

The EC Access Campaign is a multi-faceted campaign that identifies and examines obstacles to accessing emergency contraception (EC) while promoting the awareness, availability, and affordability of EC for all women. Through the EC Access Campaign, the National Institute oversees an innovative national initiative that increases awareness and use of EC by collaborating with local partners to stimulate community-driven public policy and education campaigns.

The August 24, 2006 FDA ruling which made EC accessible over-the-counter (OTC) created a "dual-label" environment in which EC is available OTC for adults 18 years of age and older but remains available by prescription only at the pharmacy for those 17 years of age and younger. In June 2007, the National Institute convened a national conference, Ensuring EC Access in the New Over-the-Counter Environment, which brought together activists, policy makers and service providers from across the country to collaborate and strategize around the new ‘dual-label’ EC environment. Participants explored ways that the "dual-label" environment impacts the health of all women, especially those excluded from the benefits of timely over-the-counter access:

• young women
• low-income women
• undocumented women

Since 2002, the National Institute has distributed a total of nearly $100,000 to twelve partner organizations across the country and provided a wide variety of expert technical assistance on a number of EC policy initiatives. Click here to see grantees.

Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign


The Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action is Tuesday, March 25th!!!


The Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign is a national initiative supported by a partnership of leading national and advocacy organizations, service providers, and community stakeholders. The goal of the campaign is to expand EC access by increasing EC education and awareness so that every woman can back up her birth control with EC. Primary campaign strategies include grassroots organizing, provider and public education, and policy debates which take place throughout the year, and culminate on our annual springtime BUYBC Day of Action. The campaign also encourages advance provision of EC to every woman and exploring strategies for making EC accessible to those excluded from timely access by EC's "dual-label" status.


For the past six years, the BUYBC Campaign has employed various tools and strategies for raising awareness of and dispelling myths about EC. From state houses, to college campuses, to the doctor's office, campaign participants across the country have raised awareness of EC and the importance of ensuring that all women can access EC when they need it. The National Institute, as the campaign coordinator, has developed a variety of educational and outreach materials in both English and Spanish that provide organizations and activists with unique and valuable activities and tools for spreading the word about EC.