About this Survey

Repro TLC, previously known as Midwest Access Project, is conducting a needs assessment study that seeks to get feedback and insights from Repro Care providers/workers such as nurses, midwives, and OB/GYNs, etc. across Illinois to understand the barriers to providing abortion care services and supports to high-need populations (BIPOC, LGBTQIA, low-income households) that you may serve. Findings from this study will be used to help improve training opportunities and expand access to culturally appropriate care in Illinois.

As part of this needs assessment study, you will be asked to participate in an online 15-minute survey and invited to participate in a virtual 45-minute interview with Repro TLC’s program staff.
Why am I being asked to be part of this study?

You are being asked to participate in this study because you are currently an Illinois-based reproductive care (Repro Care) provider or worker such as, but not limited to advanced practice clinicians, doulas, community health workers, midwives, nurses, and OB/GYNs.
What will happen during the surveys and interview?

The online survey includes questions about your role, your experience, challenges and barriers to access and care when it comes to providing abortion care services and supports to Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA individuals, and/or low-income households who may live in the communities you serve. At the end of the survey, you will be asked if you would like to participate in a follow-up interview which will delve deeper into these topics and ask you to identify your resources and support needs.
How will things be kept private? How will you ensure my confidentiality?

Your name and contact information will only be collected, if you provide it, for the purpose of distributing the incentives and to schedule your interview. However, the survey and interview will ask you to identify your job title/role, city, etc. This information is being collected for the purpose of ensuring Repro TLC’s has representation of repro care providers/workers across the state.

Due to the sensitive nature of the study, we ask that you find a private location where you can complete the survey and/or interview uninterrupted. You can complete the survey or interview on your personal phone, laptop, computer, IPad, etc. We advise that you do not use a publicly shared or accessible device and will need to complete the survey in one sitting, meaning the survey will not allow you to stop and come back at a later time without having to start over. The only way you can participate in the survey and interview will be to do it online and virtually as no data collection will be done in-person.

Since the survey will be administered using a generic link, your answers will be kept in separate locations to prevent anyone other than the research team from seeing your information. Only the Repro TLC PI and program staff will have access to your name and contact information (e.g., email and/or phone number). It will be safely secured in a password protected file that will be securely and safely destroyed within one year of the study completing. Your name will be connected to a unique ID # that we make up just for this study.

Repro TLC has hired the Black Researchers Collective (BRC), an Illinois-based non-profit to conduct the analysis of the survey and interview data and to draft a brief summarizing key findings for Repro TLC. BRC (and Repro TLC’s) program staff have completed Institutional Review Board (IRB) certification. BRC program staff will not have access to your name or contact information. Repro TLC will de-identify your survey responses and attach and use your unique ID on the interview transcript to ensure your anonymity. The survey data and transcripts will be shared using a secure site and access will be restricted to only the necessary Repro TLC and BRC program staff on the project. No other individuals, community partners, or organizations will be given access to your individual survey and/or interview audio files and responses. Both the survey data file and transcripts will be destroyed within one year of the study completion.

In any type of report that is written, Repro TLC and BRC program staff will not include your name or anyone else’s name, or the name of your site or location. Findings will be reported in aggregate (e.g., Illinois repro care providers/workers indicated that….)
Will there be any incentives?

Participants who successfully complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win one of three $50 e-gift cards.

Participants who participate in the interview will receive a $75 e-gift card.
Is my participation in this study required?

Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You can choose to participate (or not) in the online survey or virtual interview. You can choose to answer all, some, or none of the questions or decline participation without penalty.

For the interviews, if you are not comfortable with being recorded by Repro TLC, you can decline participation without penalty or have the Repro TLC Principal Investigator (PI) and/or program staff take written notes. You can withdraw your consent to participate at any time. You can decline participation at the time of scheduling, or at any time prior by emailing the Repro TLC program staff scheduler.
What are the risks for participating in this study?

The risks associated with participating in this study for providers/workers is sharing feedback on your experience on a topic (abortion care services and supports) that is highly sensitive, especially in this charged political climate and The Dobbs Decision (i.e., the overturning of Roe v. Wade). Although Repro TLC and BRC will not use names and will de-identify respondents, you may feel particularly vulnerable or at risk of being identified as an abortion care provider/worker just by participating in this study.

You do not have to answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable. You can stop participating at any time without penalty.
Are there any benefits if you participate in this study?

This study may not help you directly, but your answers will help Repro TLC identify and highlight the strengths, resources, and needs in the sexual and reproductive healthcare community in Illinois as well as the current state, challenges, and opportunities within the field of abortion care across the state. Findings will also help Repro TLC refine the existing support, training, and resources it provides to providers/workers across the state.

Both Repro TLC and BRC may use findings from the report to create additional collateral such as infographics or presentations to increase the awareness Repro Care provider/worker needs. For any future collateral created, Repro TLC and/or BRC will report information in aggregate. No identifying or personal information from participants will be used.

In the event that significant new findings arise during the course of this research study that may impact your decision to continue participating, you will be promptly informed of these findings. Your continued participation in the study will be entirely voluntary, and you will have the opportunity to make an informed decision based on the new information provided to you.
Who can you contact with questions about this study?

The Principal Investigator is Aisha Naseem, who has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. Aisha also serves as the Repro TLC’s Provider Movement Building Manager and can be reached at map_pmb@midwestaccessproject.org

If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact Pearl IRB at www.pearlirb.com
Statement of Consent

By providing broad consent for future research use, Repro TLC acknowledges that your privacy and confidentiality will be safeguarded at all times. Any data shared for future research will be anonymized to protect your identity. If you wish to opt out of any future use of your data, you may do so by contacting the research team at any time. Your decision to opt out will not affect your participation in the current study.

You have read the above information and give your consent to participate if chosen. Please keep a copy of this form (received by email) for your reference.

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