Mid-Del Schools to launch first-in-state program to address period poverty for K-12 students. Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Foundation to partner with SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest to supply free period products.
In partnership with SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest, the Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce a groundbreaking program for addressing period poverty in public schools by providing dispensers with free period products in restroom facilities in each of the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. This innovative program is the first in Oklahoma and one of the first in the nation.
Period poverty is known as the condition of being disadvantaged due to menstruation and is most often experienced by individuals under financial constraints. Lack of access to adequate pads or tampons can lead to students missing class, staying home from school, falling behind academically and more. These effects can often be magnified for young people starting their menstruation journey, which can be a confusing time, especially when combined with myriad other physical and social challenges of adolescence. Inflation and rising costs of living also contribute to period poverty.
“Period poverty is one of those problems that people tend to think of as happening in other times and places – if they are aware of it at all,” said Lindse Barks, director, Midwest City-Del City Public School Foundation. “Unfortunately, period poverty is very real for today’s Oklahoma students, and we believe this partnership will go a long way to help address it. Additionally, we hope this will help start a dialogue not only in our schools but in our community and the state as a whole, so we may all better understand and confront the inequities brought about by period poverty.”
The district is engaging Aunt Flow, a nationwide purveyor of period products, to install 207 dispensers during the fall semester. High-quality, sustainably made period products will then be made available in those dispensers free to all students and teachers, regardless of income or need – no questions asked. SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest is sponsoring the dispensers.
“The Founding Sisters of SSM Health St. Anthony were dedicated to serving Oklahoma’s vulnerable and addressing the inequities of their time, just as we believe Mid-Del Schools is doing through this program today,” said Karen Green, regional director of Mission Integration, SSM Health St. Anthony. “Our organization has been eager to jump onboard in support of this initiative as it reflects our Mission-driven goal of expanding access to high-quality health care to all who need it.”