Abortion Conversation Project.

The Abortion Conversation Project was founded in 2000 to create strategies to challenge the stigma surrounding abortion. ACP was originally conceived as the 501(c)(3) sister to the National Coalition for Abortion Providers, a lobbying and trade organization for independent abortion providers. In July of 2008, both organizations joined forces to form the Abortion Care Network, a 501(c)(3) not for profit that expanded the abortion care community around independent providers and harnessed the energy generated by our "open and honest" conversations.

In the first 8 years of its existence, ACP created several initiatives that addressed abortion stigma. With the co-sponsorship of Exhale, it brought together researchers, mental health professionals, clergy, and providers to create an agenda to promote post abortion emotional health. ACP collaborated with the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice to develop a curriculum on reproductive loss for their clergy training program. ACP also distributed the workbook, A Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Resolution After an Abortion for the Pregnancy Options Workbooks.

Another initiative was the Mom, Dad I'm Pregnant project which resulted in a website (www.momdadimpregnant.org) and two handouts, one for parents and one for the young people involved in an unintended pregnancy. Similarly, ACP worked with the creators of www.menandabortion.com to create a handout called Especially for Men.

The Abortion Conversation Project sponsored Abortion Conversations in Texas, Florida, and the Northwest (2005-2007) in an effort to create a space where providers and pro-choice allies, including clergy, activists, academics, students, and health professionals, could come together to talk openly and honestly about abortion.

The Abortion and Spirituality Working Group brought together clergy and abortion counselors to explore training aids, handouts, and strategies to assist women with spiritual concerns about an abortion experience.

More information can be found on the Abortion Conversation Project website.

From the guide to the Abortion Conversation Project Records, 2000-2008, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)