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From Womanspace
Jan/Feb 2007
"Sue’s Views"**
New New Jersey Abortion Fund
It costs about $460
to get a first trimester abortion. That’s not a mountain
of money. But for some women it’s Everest.
Oddly, progressive New Jersey has never had an independent
abortion fund. Various New Jersey Planned Parenthoods in
the State have some money available for those in need and some
of the private clinics may have some funds. But there has
never been an independent state- wide organization. That
is about to change.
The reproductive choice committee of the Ridgewood Unitarian
Society voted to take on the job of organizing and they have
been moving at top speed. The project started with a forum
to which abortion providers and all others interested were
invited. A founding committee emerged consisting of
members of the Society, Mary Martire and Wendy Helft from our
chapter** and other interested individuals.
Using guidelines published by the National Network of Abortion
Funds (NNAF) based in Boston, the organizers have already chosen
a name – New Jersey Abortion Access Fund, written a mission
statement and are working to incorporate as a non-profit (501c3)
organization.
The mission statement says that NJAAF will provide grants to
cover the cost of abortion, emergency contraception and other
related services through referrals from service providers and
community organizations.
How do we know that there is a need for such a fund in New
Jersey? According to spokesperson of the National Network,
Sarah Horsoey, all their member funds report they get more
requests for financial assistance than they can respond to.
And new needs may arise. For example if abortions are
restricted in nearby states, there will be a need for housing
for women coming to New Jersey for medical treatment.
Approximately 22,000 women request financial help each year and
2 million dollars are dispersed by abortion funds nationally.
The National Network, to which 110 funds belong, supports
individual funds with organizational advice and also helps some
individuals through their National Reproductive Justice Fund
which was formed to help individuals in special situations.
These include: immigrants, incarcerated women, women who
need an abortion in the second trimester, women in areas where
there is no local fund and women who were displaced by the
Katrina hurricane. Stephanie Poggi, who was editor of the
defunct feminist newspaper, Sojourner, is executive director.
**Suzanne
Messing is a member of the Northern New Jersey NOW chapter.
Contact Sue and/or Northern New Jersey NOW at
NNJNOW@nownj.org. |
