Preterm In The Community
Through December 2026, Preterm will conduct a Reproductive Health Community Needs Assessment (RHCNA) to examine barriers to access, service gaps, and ongoing social needs for Northeast Ohioans. As Ohio’s largest independent abortion provider, we believe a formal re-examination of our reproductive health landscape is critical to the protection & expansion of bodily autonomy statewide. Furthermore, it will guide both our organization and other independent clinics through business continuity/strategic planning efforts in an ever-changing environment.
Preterm’s Advocacy Efforts
FlockNO
In 2025, a group of concerned Cleveland residents assembled the Cleveland FlockNO Campaign to stop the city's Flock "Safety" contract and remove Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) from our streets. This campaign was inspired by other campaigns all across the country resisting the growing numbers of Flock cameras in our communities.
For generations, government surveillance has been used to control and repress those seeking to exercise their reproductive rights, and new strategies are rapidly developing. Abortion advocates often lead the charge to combat government surveillance, as we see firsthand the impacts of systems-wide tactics on individuals. We know that a resourced community, not a surveilled one, is a safer community.
In summer 2026, Preterm, along with a coalition of reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations across Ohio, established a partnership with Cleveland’s FlockNO campaign. On September 22, 2026, the coalition will host a webinar that weaves together the fight to stop AI surveillance technology with the vision to build a world grounded in Reproductive Justice values, and provides opportunities for folks across the state to get involved with their local FlockNO campaigns. Stay tuned for more information!
Time to Care
Time to Care is a statewide coalition centered around SB 396, a bipartisan bill that would mandate 14 weeks of paid family leave with job protections for workers all across Ohio. The qualifying events for Ohio's paid family leave policy are similar to what is considered a qualifying event under FMLA. This includes, but is not limited to the birth, foster or adoption of a child; cancer treatment; surgery and recovery; heart conditions; caring for aging parents or spouses; and end-of-life care for a family member.
If passed, SB 396 would:
Allow up to 14 weeks off for a qualifying event, up to 18 weeks a year
Pay workers 85% of their pay, with a maximum benefit up to $1,231 per week
Protect the employee’s job while they are on leave
Ohio JFS would administer the program, which would begin in 2028