As we mark the second anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision on June 24, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the profound changes and challenges it has brought, celebrate our community's resilience and growth, and share more about what comes next for BAF.

Shifting Landscape

Following the Dobbs ruling, 14 states have near or total bans on abortion. Access to reproductive health services has become even more dependent on geographic location, leading to increased travel distances, higher costs, and longer wait times for those seeking care. 

Maryland has seen a 40% increase in the number of abortions provided statewide. And while there were still an estimated 1,037,200 clinician-provided abortions in 2023, barriers forced delays in care and – in some cases – the inability to access an abortion. 

Growing Impact

There is no denying the tangible difference we have made in the lives of those living in and traveling to Maryland for abortion care, thanks to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters. Our collective efforts have led to significant growth over the last few years. 

We launched practical support services in December 2021 and added emergency contraceptive mailers in November 2022. Since Roe was overturned, our community has mobilized over two million dollars to support people seeking abortions in Maryland. In 2023 alone, we distributed more than a million dollars to over 2,000 clients – a threefold increase compared with our pre-Dobbs impact.

By the end of 2024, we will have nine full-time mission-driven employees. These milestones demonstrate not only a profound commitment to supporting abortion seekers but also resiliency to the changing landscape.

Strengthening Service Delivery

Over the last two years, we’ve been reflecting on our service delivery model and the evolving needs of abortion seekers. As callers cross multiple state lines and barriers to care intensify, it’s become clear that we need to streamline our services.

This summer, we are integrating our Abortion Funding and Practical Support programs and moving towards a more comprehensive client services model. Rather than coordinating between two departments, clients will work with a single dedicated case manager. This will enable our team to holistically meet our clients' needs while reducing the number of calls and hoops abortion seekers need to jump through.

To facilitate this integration, we have made the necessary but difficult decision to temporarily suspend our abortion funding and practical support operations through July 15. We are collaborating with local partners and providing referrals to ensure that abortion seekers will still receive essential services during this closure.

Pausing services will help us make crucial improvements to our systems and accelerate hiring for our open Client Service Coordinator positions, including one dedicated to serving Spanish-speaking clients. So we can reopen quickly and continue helping people access the abortions they need, want, and deserve.

Moving Forward Together

Our vision has been and continues to be to fully meet the financial and logistical needs of every person who calls our helpline. We are readying ourselves, but we need the resources. Your contributions as grassroots donors, public funders, and private grant providers are critical to realizing that dream.

With your continued support, we will persist in our mission to advocate for and provide unrestricted access to abortion care, ensuring that everyone has the essential resources and support they deserve.

This is an act of love and resistance in itself, and the ripple effects of that go far beyond just paying for an abortion. Thank you for being part of our work.

In solidarity,

Lynn & Porsha
Co-Executive Directors
Baltimore Abortion Fund