A Chattanooga nonprofit that provides free contraceptives to women in the Tennessee Valley and beyond is struggling to keep up with new demand.

One step ahead: Chattanooga Executive Director Mandy Cawley oversees 11 counties in Tennessee, five counties in Georgia and two counties in Alabama.

She said some recent policy changes had increased demand for her services.

“About a year ago, the Tennessee Department of Health cut its federal funding for family planning services. It requested Title 10 funds. The governor’s office replaced those federal funds with state funds, which is fantastic, but unfortunately that money cannot be used by someone who cannot provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status,” Cawley said.

In Hamilton County alone, nearly 600 women no longer have access to free or affordable contraception through the health department.

Cawley said these women are being redirected to A Step Ahead to get what they need.

“Last year we helped about 1,300 women get free contraception. This year we will help about 2,000 women get free contraception. Providing these services will cost us about $400,000,” Cawley said.

To meet the increasing demand, the help of the community is needed.

“We have never put anyone on a waitlist or turned anyone away. If you need help accessing contraception, you need that help today, not six months from now when A Step Ahead can afford to help you. We can only continue to do this if our community supports this work,” Cawley said.