Scaling up Fertility Awareness-based Methods with the Government of Jharkhand 

The centerpiece of IRH’s scaling up work (2007-2012) in India is its partnership with the Government of Jharkhand (GOJ), to scale up the SDM and LAM throughout the state. GOJ has committed resources to this initiative for training, awareness-raising activities, promoting CycleBeads, and logistics as part of its efforts to integrate SDM and LAM within the existing family planning program.

In Jharkhand, IRH works closely with district and state officials to integrate the SDM and LAM into their family planning services. Work began in 2008 in three districts and expanded to six in early 2010. By 2011 the program had expanded to 12 of the state’s 24 districts. IRH conducts training for trainers and mentors health providers to ensure quality service is delivered. The mentorship and supportive supervision also determines the need for refresher training, most of which is provided onsite. 

IRH India is also providing knowledge-based Contraceptive Technology Updates training for providers within the state to ensure quality counseling for all methods, which includes the SDM and LAM.  The ExpandNet model is the guide for scale-up of the efforts.

Additionally, IRH is working with government health facilities to monitor their service statistics and to help them with evidence based decision making including forecasting their commodity requirements more accurately. IRH is also monitoring and evaluating the scale up process.

Social Marketing 
IRH has partnered with PSI to pilot the social marketing of CycleBeads in Deoghar district.