Planned Parenthood now offers a new online tool that may seriously help people seeking abortions figure out where to actually get them. Among the numerous unfair barriers that people who want an abortion may face is finding out where they can access the safe, legal medical procedure is high on the list.
The tool, called the Abortion Care Finder, helps people find the nearest available Planned Parenthood clinic that is able to perform abortions. In addition to the location, the tool also gives relevant information based on that user’s location. For example, what state laws are, including parental notification and consent laws, mandatory waiting periods, if people need more than one trip to the provider, and which types of abortion procedures are available.
How does this work? Users input their age, date of their last period, and zip code. People can access this free tool via both mobile and desktop users—while it’s an online tool, notably, it is not a separate “app.” Planned Parenthood shared a tweet that demonstrates how the tool functions. The interface is seemingly user-friendly and simple.
The biggest flaw in the tool? Its limitations. The tool only shows users Planned Parenthood clinics, not independent abortion providers. Planned Parenthood has said it hopes to add these providers to the tool in the future.
For now, the tool refers users to a “Find A Provider” map if no Planned Parenthood comes up within 60 miles of the zip code input by the user, or if the nearest Planned Parenthood can’t help based on how far along the pregnancy is. This map was created by the National Abortion Federation and lists providers in most states, as well as the basic state laws. This map isn’t customizable like the tool but is definitely a solid resource.
"The Abortion Care Finder uses technology to help put agency back in the hands of our patients," Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson stated, as reported by The Cut. “As politicians are increasingly trying to keep people from accessing care or even information related to their sexual and reproductive health, it’s our duty to ensure people can still access health care and accurate, trustworthy information—no matter what.”
Similarly, the organization offers Planned Parenthood Direct, which expanded earlier this year. Planned Parenthood Direct is an app that allows users to make Planned Parenthood appointments, request birth control, or get prescriptions. It’s available in 27 states with hopes to expand service to the entire nation soon.
At a time when fake abortion providers exist to trick people into carrying their pregnancies to full term, extreme abortion bans are pushed in state after state, and stigma around reproductive health permeates cultural dialogues, any tool that makes information on how to receive the safe, legal medical procedure easily accessible is an important step in the right direction.