Hello All-Options community,
It’s hard to believe that the first month of 2022 is almost over. This new year we are facing the same ongoing challenges to abortion rights and issues exacerbated by the surging pandemic. At the same time, we have found hope and community in opportunities that call on us to demand better and show up for one another.
From volunteer offerings to news about our All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, we hope today’s updates inspire you to do the same!
Apply to be a Talkline Advocate
As pregnant people face increasingly restrictive laws that limit abortion access and other ongoing oppressions, the need for radical compassion, deep listening, and judgment-free support is more necessary than ever. Through our All-Options Talkline, we are here for callers in all of their pregnancy experiences, including parenting, abortion, adoption, miscarriage, infertility, and everything in between. If you’re looking for a virtual opportunity to support people in all their reproductive decisions, becoming a Talkline Advocate might be for you!
Visit our page here and complete an English or Spanish application. If selected to volunteer, you will be required to participate in our 30-hour training which will take place over 6 weeks beginning on March 15. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 11.
All-Options strives to build a volunteer team that reflects the diversity of our callers and communities, so we are prioritizing prospective volunteers who are people of color, trans and gender expansive, bilingual English/Spanish language speakers, people with disabilities, people with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption experiences, and people who have called the Talkline for support. We are especially interested in recruiting native Spanish speakers at this time; please note the training, materials, and call logs will be in English.
Spring 2022 Pregnancy Options Workshop
We are back with our Spring 2022 virtual 6-week Pregnancy Options Workshop! This interactive course is for anyone interested in providing high-quality, open-hearted support to their pregnant clients and patients. Each week we will discuss different themes, practice options counseling skills, and explore your values and biases alongside a learning community of advocates, counselors, and educators from around the country. Learn more and register on our Eventbrite page.
For questions about our upcoming Pregnancy Options Workshop or inquiries about custom trainings, please contact our National Trainings Coordinator, Karlie Thomas, at karlie@all-options.org!
Media Spotlight
If you follow us on social media, you’ve likely seen all the great pieces featuring All-Options this month. If you haven’t had a chance, check them out here!
- Our Center Manager Jess Marchbank talked to Newsy about what sets our All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center apart from predatory crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs).
- In The Nation, our Executive Director Parker Dockray spoke about the biased, manipulative approach of CPCs, and the importance of supporting people in ALL their decisions about abortion and parenting.
- Last, we were featured in Elite Daily! Our National Programs Manager Paulina Guerrero shared how the Talkline and clergy counseling line serve as resources for folks, including partners navigating pregnancy decisions together.
Faith Aloud has new hours
To start the new year, our Faith Aloud clergy counseling line underwent an exciting change–we expanded our hours! We are now taking live calls on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm ET. This means that callers can expect a clergy volunteer to provide them with unconditional spiritual support during these slots. Folks can still leave a voice message outside of those times to have a counselor return the call later. For unbiased support through any pregnancy or parenting decision, call us at 1-888-717-5010.
P.S. If talking on the phone isn’t for you, we have spiritual resources as well as clergy prayers and meditation videos available on our website to support you through your experiences.
Event Alert: 10th Biennial Adoption Initiative Conference
The 10th Biennial Adoption Initiative Conference: The Evolution of Adoption Practice: Activist and Community Perspectives is taking place virtually from March 25-26, 2022! Breakout sessions will explore best practices in open adoptions, youth perspectives on adoption & foster care, and a panel discussion featuring our board member, Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander, LMFT.
Learn more about the conference and purchase your ticket here!