Reproductive Health Resources and Supports in the RGV
Nikole Salinas | Pulse
Frontera Fund, a local nonprofit organization, and Student Health Services at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offer students information and services regarding reproductive health.
Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court in 2022, Texas has banned abortions within the state.
According to the Texas State Law Library website, “Chapter 170A of the Texas Health & Safety Code prohibits abortions outright, except in certain circumstances.”
To combat the difficulty of accessing abortions, Frontera Fund has been offering support to those seeking reproductive care since 2015.
Its mission, as per its official website, is to foster reproductive justice and rights by “supporting community advocacy and direct services for all people of the Rio Grande Valley regardless of gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, race, class, immigration status, age, or religious affiliation.”
Cathy Torres, organizing manager of Frontera Fund, explained the main aid the nonprofit provides is to help fund the care individuals need.
“We’re an abortion fund, the sole abortion fund based here in the Rio Grande Valley, and we provide financial support for people seeking abortion care outside of Texas,” Torres said.
The fund can also help cover the cost of non-abortion-related services locally through its partnerships with Planned Parenthood clinics in Harlingen and Brownsville.
To continue doing its work and involve the local community, the organization hosts a variety of unique fundraising events. One of its longest-running events is Justicia, a music festival featuring local hardcore musicians and groups.
This year’s Justicia event was hosted on Sept. 7 and had an attendance of over 250. All proceeds from Justicia go toward funding abortion care for the community.
“The core of these community events is creating a space where people can feel unapologetic joy,” Torres said.
Frontera Fund also has a helpline to connect people with more reproductive health services and resources, such as testing for sexually transmitted infections and free contraceptives.
Torres said she encourages anyone seeking help to reach out.
“People can text or call our helpline with any reproductive health-related questions,” she said.
For current UTRGV students, an option for health care services are the UT Health RGV Student Health clinics, which can be found at the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
The facilities provide services, such as gynecology exams, pap smears, pregnancy tests, and birth control prescription and management. The cost for these services varies from free to at cost depending on what is needed.
Glenn Gray, director of Student and Employee Health Services at UTRGV, said since the clinics are a student-funded facility, students are never charged for visits.
“There are some small charges for lab and pharmacy services that you can get here at cost,” Gray said.
To schedule an appointment or for more information about the Student and Employee Health Services, call 665-2511 in Edinburg or 882-3896 in Brownsville.
Those interested may also call or text Frontera Fund at 887-0706 for more information regarding reproductive health.
