How AbortionFinder Verifies Its Providers

Power to Decide created AbortionFinder because for too many people, the process of figuring out where and how to get an abortion is confusing, complicated, and overwhelming. We believe it should be easier for people across the United States to access abortion. AbortionFinder is an easy-to-use search tool connected to a comprehensive nationwide database of abortion providers. It helps anyone who needs it to find the provider that can best meet their needs based on their location, age, and how far along in pregnancy they are.

Our team verifies that each provider included in the AbortionFinder database provides abortion services. We also regularly check that the information we have about each of the providers in AbortionFinder — including contact information, hours, and what services they offer — is up to date and accurate.

Now, you might be wondering how do we do this? Find out below! 

Power to Decide has a team of fellows dedicated to contacting the providers on AbortionFinder every 4 to 6 weeks to confirm their services. We reach out to the clinics via phone calls, emails, and on rare occasions, fax. 

With the help of our policy team, we keep track of the ever-changing legislative landscape and also contact clinics to make sure we catch changes to gestational age limits enforced by new bans or changed requirements such as waiting periods and parental involvement. 

To help build connections with the clinics, we are assigned groups of states and clinics. Because of this, we’ve been able to form meaningful relationships with providers, patient navigators, medical assistants, and other clinic staff. This is definitely a highlight of our work. On more challenging days with new bans being considered and more barriers being placed on accessing care, it’s a great reminder to chat with the incredible folks all across the country helping abortion seekers get the care they need and want. It grounds us in why we do what we do, day in and day out. Keeping the information on AbortionFinder up-to-date is one part of the fight to ensure people can find abortion care. And meeting and working alongside the people in the fight with us has been a true privilege. 

AbortionFinder also shares other helpful information for abortion seekers to minimize how many places they need to look for help. Along with abortion providers, we share information on support organizations and resources for abortion seekers to connect with. Using social media, we regularly check the status of the support organizations and abortion funds in our database to verify they are open and able to offer support.

Our goal is to minimize confusion and help people access abortion care with our directory of trusted (and verified) abortion service providers and assistance resources in the United States.

All our work is made possible through partnerships with reproductive and sexual health organizations including the National Abortion Federation (NAF), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH). It includes independent providers as well as providers affiliated with PPFA, NAF, and the Abortion Care Network (ACN). Many organizations and individuals have kindly lent the project their expertise and advice.

If you, or someone you love, needs help accessing abortion care, visit AbortionFinder.org for up-to-date information about the availability of abortion care across the country. We are here for you!