Today marks 14 years since the launch of the All-Options Talkline. Wow!
In 2004, in Portland, Oregon, our founders recognized the need for a new organization — one that would bridge false divisions, transcend political rhetoric, and provide unconditional support to people in all of their experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption.
Fourteen years later, this vision remains as important as ever.
All around us, the world is filled with injustice, apathy, and hateful violence. In these dark times, we cannot lose sight of the world we want, a world that is just and compassionate, where everyone has the resources and support they need to thrive. Each of us can – and must – do our part, not only to fight back and resist, but to pave a different way forward.
At All-Options we are working every day to build the world we want, as advocates for radical compassion and judgment-free support for people in their most complicated reproductive decisions and experiences. On any given day, our Talkline might hear from someone struggling to make a decision about an unplanned pregnancy; someone whose recent miscarriage is bringing up feelings about an abortion they had years ago but never told anyone about; someone who terminated a pregnancy after a devastating fetal diagnosis but is not welcomed by their local pregnancy loss community; or someone for whom being adopted themselves adds layers of complexity to making a decision about becoming a parent.
Our Talkline is truly compassion in action. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, All-Options is able to offer a resource of hope to people all over the country who are struggling to find a safe place to talk openly about pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption, and the courage to ask for what they need.
“I am so glad I found All-Options. I was struggling to come to a decision about my pregnancy and I needed to talk to someone nonjudgmental, open, and supportive – and that’s what happened.”
“Being able to call All-Options made such a difference to me today. When I called I was crying and upset and really felt like I had no options. After the conversation, I know what I need to do for myself to feel a lot happier. I am surprised that something like this exists.”
Our Talkline is just one of the ways that All-Options is working to build a more compassionate and just world, but it is our longest running program and the heart of our model. Today, despite all that is wrong in the world, we celebrate our callers, our advocates, our supporters – and the simple but profound beauty of being there for each other, without judgment or strings attached.
– J. Parker Dockray, Executive Director