Mabel Wadsworth Center

02/24/2026

Come join the Mabel's team as a Triage Nurse or as a Clinical Assistant! Check out the link below to learn more about the positions and how to apply.

https://www.mabelwadsworth.org/get-involved/join-our-team/employment/

02/24/2026

While this is funding that Mabel's won't seek or receive, we're big supporters of this bill! Our friends at Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England provide essential services to so many people in Maine ❤️

Action Alert! Testify in support of family planning care funding on February 25!

This Wednesday, February 25, Maine lawmakers will hold a public hearing on LD 335, An Act to Safeguard Reproductive Rights, a bill that would ensure patients can continue to access essential health care at Maine's reproductive health care providers in the face of federal attacks.

As strong as the laws of Maine are in protecting reproductive rights, they mean nothing without access to care.

If you believe Mainers deserve access to basic health care, consider testifying in support of LD 335!

02/23/2026

Sorry, Dover-Foxcroft besties! But watch this space for an update on the reschedule.

We are rescheduling the Shifting Access to Reproductive Healthcare in Dover-Foxcroft event due to snow! Please stay tuned for a new date.

02/17/2026

There is no Reproductive Justice without Indigenous Justice!

This Thursday, February 19th the Judiciary Committee will hold hearings in Augusta for two of our priority bills:

LD 395, An Act to Restore Access to Federal Laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations - 3/19 @ 10am

LD 785, An Act to Enact the Remaining Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act - 3/19 @ 1pm

The Wabanaki Alliance will be present to testify in support of these bills and we look forward to seeing our supporters from across our homelands stand up for sovereignty.

As a reminder, you can submit testimony ahead of time online, sign up to testify over zoom, or join us in person to make your voice heard before the Committee directly. Visit our website to review our legislative toolkit ahead of time! https://www.wabanakialliance.com/sovereignty-toolkit-2026/

02/15/2026

Happy Birthday, League of Women Voters of Maine ! Celebrate by fighting against the SAVE Act🎉

Last year, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was met with national outrage, and as a result, only squeaked by in the U.S. House. It’s time to get loud again, because similar bills have been introduced and are described as the SAVE Act on steroids: the Make Elections Great Again Act (MEGA) and the Save America Act.

They include voter suppression methods, like requiring voters to prove their citizenship by showing a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to cast a ballot in federal elections, and those who violate the law already face severe penalties. Plus, many Americans don't have ready access to a passport or birth certificate. The MEGA Act would additionally prohibit the use of Ranked Choice Voting.

We encourage you to TAKE ACTION. The Save America Act was passed in the U.S. House and heads to the Senate. Tell your U.S. Senators that you oppose the SAVE Act, the MEGA Act, and Save America Act.

The work of the League is often a story of generational struggle and suffrage, but we refuse to turn back the clock on voting rights.

See link in comments to take action!

02/14/2026

It's Valentine's Day, and we're thinking about what we love! There's not enough time in the day (or space in this graphic) to list them all, and that's a great problem to have.

Whether you're celebrating solo, with friends, with a partner, or you're just not into Valentine's, we hope this day is as lovely as you!

02/12/2026

Unfortunately you are not having deja vu--the SAVE Act is rearing it's ugly, misogynistic head again.

Call Senators Collins and King to urge them to vote against this attack on voting rights!

The U.S. House on Wednesday passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. It would also require a valid photo identification before voters can cast ballots.

The SAVE Act will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal and state elections, but this piece of legislation creates vast voting barriers for wide swaths of citizens, including:

- Married women and other Americans who have changed their names, who would also be required to secure updated documentation to register to vote.
- Military voters, who would be required to present documentation every time they re-register to vote when their family moves.
- Families who have been impacted by natural disasters and lost important documentation.
- People of color, who are three times more likely than white citizens to lack the necessary documents or face difficulties accessing them.
- The half of American adults who do not possess a passport.

AND, let's not forget: Mainers forcefully rejected this idea at the ballot box last year, with the overwhelming defeat of Question 1.

Tell Senators Collins and King to vote against this unnecessary legislation that will disenfranchise millions of people from exercising their right to vote.

Link to contact info for both of their offices is in our comments.

https://www.mainewomen.org/federal-contacts

02/12/2026

Hey there, lovers--did you know February is Condom Month? It is! And since we treated you to a condom-themed episode of Reproductive Left a couple short weeks ago, we wanted to highlight condoms "cousin," dental dams!

Dental dams are a great tool to help prevent the transmission of STIs during oral s*x! Many STIs are orally transmittable, and most people who contract an STI won't have any symptoms, so barrier protection + relevant testing are a great combo to take care of yourself.

02/10/2026

Join us in wearing orange today in honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month.

Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults. In fact, 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, s*xual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

This year’s theme, “Real Love Respects,” cuts through the noise by focusing on what real love should look and feel like. In a world full of mixed messages, this theme centers around one truth: respect is non-negotiable. It empowers youth to recognize harmful patterns early and to expect more from love. Because respect is everything, it’s earned, it’s honest, and it never makes you question your worth.

Remember: If it’s real, it’s respectful.

Learn more at www.loveisrespect.org.

02/10/2026

You may have heard that the first measles case has occurred in Maine in almost a decade. Specifically, we know that this happened here in Bangor (check the link below to the Maine CDC website for specifics and guidance if you may have been exposed).
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/news/maine-cdc-confirms-case-measles-maine-2026-02-06

What should you know and do?

1) Make sure you and your loved ones are vaccinated against measles if possible. The first measles vaccine (in combination with other essential vaccines) is typically given when a baby is 1 year old, with the second being given at 4 years old. Infants between 6-11 months old are recommended to receive their first measles vaccine if they'll be traveling internationally. If you have any uncertainty about your vaccine history, call your healthcare provider to have bloodwork ordered to see if you're protected. If you missed out on being vaccinated on the typical schedule, you can still be vaccinated against measles!

2) If you develop any symptoms of measles, CALL a provider. Measles is highly contagious, and if you suspect you may have or been exposed to measles, it's important to prevent the spread. What symptoms should you look out for? Fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, and/or a rash that begins from the head down. While the rash associated with measles is a classic sign of the virus, not everyone infected with measles has all symptoms.

If you are a Mabel's patient and do not have measles but realize you need to be vaccinated against it, call our office at 207-947-5337 or send an email to info@mabelwadsworth.org to have your provider order the vaccine to your local pharmacy.

02/09/2026

We also know that trans folks across the gender spectrum are much more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. All girls (and kids) deserve safety, cis and trans alike.

This opinion piece really hits the nail on the head.

"According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, in 2024, of those sentenced for s*xual abuse, 55% were white, 94% were men, and 95% were U.S. citizens. According to RAINN, 93% of victims of s*xual abuse under 18 knew the perpetrator, and 85% of perpetrators are 18 or older.

Hysteria screams that the villain is a trans girl on the soccer team. Hard data knows it’s likely the adult, white man a victim already knows."

You want to protect women and girls? Fully fund s*xual and domestic assault services and reproductive healthcare. We won't let trans people be a "convenient scapegoat," as this article states, while the real abusers of women and girls remain in our communities.

02/09/2026

Emergency contraception is an important tool in the "pregnancy prevention" toolbox! Whether you had a condom break, forgot your hormonal contraception, or just didn't end up using any, EC is there! The sooner it's taken, the more effective it is.

At Mabel Wadsworth Center, we're able to offer EC in the form of the brand Plan B for $5--just give us a call! If we're not able to answer when you call, leave a voicemail and we'll call you back. For security reasons, we aren't able to let folks enter our office without communication first.

We also know that this isn't the right fit for everyone, and we're here for your other contraception (emergency and otherwise) needs.

You can call us at 207-947-5337 or send an email to info@mabelwadsworth.org.