Social Workers’ Role in Abortion Access

Social Workers’ Role in Abortion Access

Abortion remains a highly controversial topic, even within our social justice driven field of social work. But as social workers, we need to recognize the part we play in moving reproductive justice forward, including destigmatizing and supporting our clients and community members seeking abortion. The NASW Code of Ethics and policy statements on reproductive justice are clear in charging social workers with supporting the rights of individuals to make decisions regarding reproductive health without duress and according to their own personal beliefs and convictions. 

Our communities and our clients have a right to self-determination, and this right applies when they are making decisions on when to become a parent, if they want to become a parent, and how many children they are willing and able to care for. According to the Code of Ethics 1.02, our role as social workers is to “assist in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals.” This is done through unbiased support, providing accurate information and appropriate referrals in a nonjudgmental atmosphere based on evidence-based practice. Access to this support should be equal to all, not based on class, disability, race, gender, sexual identity or any other intersection of identities.

Reproductive health decisions on contraception, parenting, adoption and abortion should all be made by the client based on their individual circumstance. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers are required to “continually strive to increase their professional knowledge.” In relation to reproductive justice, this means social workers must not misinform or dissuade those seeking abortion, and should instead be seeking out trainings and education to be ablet to support clients in their decision. 

This is particularly necessary regarding abortion because there are many pregnancy crisis centers posing as medical clinics that exist to prevent abortions using tactics of misinformation, confusion and shaming. As of 2011, these centers outnumbered actual abortion clinics 6 to 1 (Bryant & Swartz, 2018). Without knowledge of these entities' true goals, uninformed social workers run the risk of referring clients to seek care where they will only be manipulated by unethical practices into decisions that are not in the best interest of the individual. Making sure clients are referred to actual healthcare professionals for abortion when necessary is the bare minimum. 

Social workers have a responsibility to combat the stigma of abortion that has unnecessary, damaging effects on our community members and clients. This stigma impacts the mental health of those who have had or seek abortion, as well as abortion care providers. It also results in oppressive legislation that controls the reproductive rights of our clients and allows for fake clinics to have fewer restrictions put on them than actual clinics. These laws have a disproportionate impact on low socioeconomic populations and marginalized populations. Creating barriers or denying this care perpetuates health inequity and injustice against Black, Indigenous, and Latino individuals; people with low incomes; LGBTQ people; young people; people with disabilities; immigrants; and people in rural areas who already face systemic barriers to meeting their basic needs. Health equity is a critical responsibility for social workers, and abortion access is necesary for reaching this equity. Abortion is essential healthcare. 

Destigmatize Abortion 

“NASW supports public health campaigns that attempt to destigmatize abortion and other reproductive services while providing evidence-based information so that each person has a solid foundation on which to base their decision.” Social Work Speaks, 12th Edition, 2021

Destigmatizing abortion must address the systemic nature of stigma as it is embedded at levels from direct care to community engagement to political policy. Social work as a profession is perfectly situated to influence this issue at all levels: micro, mezzo and macro.

Some ways to start are by myth busting and knowing abortion facts . Always using neutral and trauma-informed responses to discussing abortion is important, so clients are not shut down by a clinician’s or case worker’s response to their experiences. Simply using the word “abortion” openly and confidently in professional and personal settings will move the needle on destigmatization. Sharing personal abortion stories lowers stigma as well. It helps others who have had similar experiences feel less alone and it allows those who know and care for someone who has had an abortion to humanize the expereince and empathize with the larger issue. 

Michigan’s Reproductive Health Act 

While some states are attempting to restrict bodily autonomy and eliminate abortion rights entirely, others are working to protect and expand them--States like Michigan. The Reproductive Health Act (RHA) is legislation that was just introduced this month in the State of Michigan. It’s goal is to repeal decades of unnecessary and dangerous abortion restrictions and guarantee that all Michiganders can make their own decisions regarding their pregnancies and health. This legislation is urgent as the Supreme Court is hearing cases from Mississippi and Texas that could undermine or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that provides federal protection of abortion.

The RHA would do the following if enacted:

• Repeal the state-mandated 24-hour waiting period for receiving abortion care

• Repeal laws requiring abortion patients receive biased and inaccurate counseling 

• Lift the ban on private insurance coverage for abortion

• Remove barriers to accessing abortion via telemedicine 

• Repeal medically inappropriate regulations designed to shut down health centers

• Protect the safety and privacy of minors by removing the parental consent requirement

• Remove barriers to state and federal funding for health centers that provide abortion

Advocacy on legislation that promotes abortion access or removes restrictions is also the responsibility of social workers through our NASW value of social justice. Right now social workers from all over the state need to be reaching out to their representatives to ask them to support the RHA. 

You can also sign up for Action Alerts from NASW Michigan’s Action Center here to receive calls to action and stay up to date on the progress of RHA as it moves through the legislative process. 

Educational Resources:

Stigma Toolkit 

What is Abortion Stigma? Video

Sea Change Concept Model 

Guttmacher Institute Abortion Facts Sheet

Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights, and Reproductive Justice

SisterSong and Reproductive Justice

Destigmatizing Abortion in Social Work

Current MI Laws (NARAL)

RHA Q&A from PPAM

NASW Actions:

March for Reproductive Rights/Women’s March 2021

Amicus Brief before Supreme Court on Texas SB8