Mission: Remove barriers to Long-Acting, Reversible, Contraceptives (LARC) and provide women a step ahead to maximize their potential in East Tennessee.

Our Work: A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee is a Knoxville-based nonprofit working to remove barriers to reproductive healthcare and Long-Acting, Reversible Contraception (LARC) - IUDs, implants, and the shot. Our goal is to improve reproductive healthcare equity, access, and literacy in our region by providing information, financial and psychosocial support, and no-cost access to LARC for anyone who wants it in our 16-county service area.

We connect clients with our partner clinics for low-cost reproductive healthcare services and LARC devices. The clinics send us the bill, and we directly cover the cost of all services related to LARC not covered by insurance or government funding (Title X), as well as transportation, if needed. We also operate an education program to improve reproductive health literacy in our community.

 The Issue: More than 55% of pregnancies in Tennessee are unplanned, often a result of no birth control or less effective methods. But not everyone has information and access to the most effective methods, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. In fact, only 31% of women of reproductive age have heard about them (PowerToDecide.org, 2021).

In addition, there are substantial disparities in knowledge about these methods, with large knowledge gaps among non-white, low income, and single women. IUDs and the implant are also the most expensive types of birth control and are not always covered by insurance.

With reliable birth control, women are free to focus on their futures -- advancing in education and careers, recovering from abuse or addiction, and strengthening their families and communities -- all without having to handle an unplanned pregnancy.