Unlike our college groups, you probably will not be tabling with pregnancy tests at a high school. However, you can ask your health (or nurse’s) office if they would allow you to make pregnancy test bags with tests and local information. This way, you can ensure that life-affirming resources are provided through your health office.
*College groups may use this project, and distribute to offices on campus too! Try your Health Office, Women’s Center, Campus Ministry, Residence Life, etc.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Contact your school nurse or the health office to ask if they would be interested in accepting your pregnancy test bags. You may also consider asking your Campus Ministry or other offices if they are interested in this project.
- Contact your local pregnancy resource center (PRC). If your group has not worked with them in the past, let them know who you are, what your mission is, and that you want to work with them.
- Ask your PRC if they could donate pregnancy tests for your project, and explain what the content of the bags are and the purpose of the project is.
- If your PRC is unable to donate to your project, your group can purchase test strips in bulk online (like packets of 20 Easy@Home Pregnancy Test Strips, from Amazon). Depending on how many bags you intend to make, this may be easily fundraised through your group (e.g. a couple dollars per person) or a slightly larger fundraising project.
- Ask the PRC if they could provide business cards to include in the bags. They may also have pregnancy options brochures that you could include.
- Assemble your bags. You may need to purchase, print, or collect items to include in the bags. (See list below.)
- Drop off the bags, and follow up later. Check in once a month or so to see if you need to provide more bags for the office(s).
- Keep in touch with the PRC. Contact them if you need more tests or business cards, and ask them if they have had any teens come into their center because of your outreach.
Tips for Assembling Bags
You should use opaque bags (such as a brown paper bag) for the tests and the information. That way, these bags are more discrete if the student needs to take the bag(s) home.
Each pregnancy test bag should include…
- the pregnancy test instructions! If you are using strips, you may need to photocopy and print the instructions for each bag.
- a card that provides information for both pregnancy support and STI testing. If the test comes out positive, the student may then decide to contact the PRC that you list. If the test is negative, they may want to pursue STI testing.
- directions and a map that shows the directions to your nearest pregnancy resources center.
- your campus health services. Be sure to list location, contact information, services, and business hours.
- (optional) small plastic cups if you are using the strips.
Pregnancy tests can be a very stressful and upsetting situation for a young woman. You may want to include something sweet in the bag- like chocolate- as well as a personal card from your group (which tells her that your group will help and support her if she wants your assistance).