New York City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and the New York City Department of Education (DOE) alongside Congresswoman Grace Meng and Education Chair Daniel Dromm announced the launch of a groundbreaking initiative to outfit New York City public school restrooms with dispensers of free feminine hygiene products. The program marks a major step in Councilwoman Ferreras-Copeland’s work to reduce health risks, increase access to essential feminine care for low-income girls, and promote dignity and respect for girls’ menstruation. 
 
The installation of free dispensers in 25 public middle schools and high schools in Queens and the Bronx builds upon a highly successful pilot Councilwoman Ferreras-Copeland launched in September 2015 at the High School for Arts and Business, a high school in the Queens area she represents. Attendance at the school increased from 90% to 92.4% since the installation of the free dispensers and fewer girls asked to be excused from their classes throughout the day. 
 
“Every young person should have their essential needs met in order to do well in school. Feminine hygiene products are as essential as toilet paper, helping women prevent health risks and fulfill their daily activities uninterrupted by nature. Providing young women with pads and tampons in schools will help them stay focused on their learning and sends a message about value and respect for their bodies. No young woman should face losing class time because she is too embarrassed to ask for, can’t afford or simply cannot access feminine hygiene products. Today, I am proud to be a New Yorker and live in the city that’s leading this effort to bring greater access to essential feminine care products for young women,” Ferreras-Copeland said during the announcement.
 
“Having easy access to feminine care products is essential to ensuring that girls in our schools have the supports they need to focus on learning and feel comfortable during classes. This pilot marks a major step in providing additional resources to students in need,” says DOE Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Rose. 
 
This program, the only government initiative of its kind in the nation, will provide tampons and sanitary napkins for free to 11,600 girls in school districts 9 in the Bronx and 24 in Queens, some of the most impoverished areas of the city. DOE estimates initial costs for the installation and supplies to be approximately $160,000.
 
In addition to dispensers, DOE will provide menstrual education in health classes and supplemental information on posters, brochures, and/or dedicated assemblies for families. DOE will also work closely with the principals of participating schools to solicit their feedback and have “trusted teachers” to whom students can speak if they have questions.
 
“Feminine hygiene products should never be a luxury–they are a basic and essential part of women’s health. Too often, society attaches stigma and shame to menstruation, depriving young girls of resources, access, and knowledge about their bodies and their wellness. This initiative seeks to break that stigma by providing New York City public school restrooms with dispensers of free feminine hygiene products. Our young women should have unobstructed access to quality healthcare, and this first-of-its-kind initiative goes a long way toward this crucial goal. I thank Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland for her leadership and staunch advocacy for women and girls across New York City,” says Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
 
“This pilot program is extremely important,” says U.S. Rep. Grace Meng who has spearheaded efforts in Congress to make feminine hygiene products more accessible and affordable to women. “It is a major step forward in making tampons and pads more accessible and I wholeheartedly applaud it. Hopefully, it will lead to free tampon dispensers at all high schools and middle schools throughout New York City.”
 
Ferreras-Copeland, together with Mark-Viverito, is set to introduce legislation for free feminine hygiene products. In addition, the Council will lobby Albany to join Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products, which are considered a medical device by the FDA. Items like prescription drugs, sunscreen and condoms are exempt from tax in New York State under the premise that they are essential to a person’s health.