A report has detailed a two-day “Abortion Support Training” held in November at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where participants as young as 14 were invited to attend and learn about abortion-related support roles, as reported [1] by The Gateway Pundit.
The event was organized by the Youth Abortion Support Collective (YouthASC), a national network of young people affiliated with Advocates for Youth.
According to information from the event invitation, the training was designed to introduce attendees to the skills and resources involved in abortion support work, including roles described as “abortion doulas,” companions, or support persons.
The official event description stated:
“This training is for young people ages 14-24 and will provide an introduction to the tools, resources, and skills for abortion support work. We welcome anyone who is interested in becoming an abortion doula, companion, and/or support person. The training will center youth-led abortion support efforts, specifically for high school and college students, but we will also discuss how to offer support as community members and continue advocacy after leaving campus.”
The invitation also outlined how the term “abortion doula” is defined within the program, citing a definition from Dopo, a partner organization involved in developing the curriculum. It described the role as:
“Anyone that can physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually hold space for someone before, during, and/or after abortion.”
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According to the report, the program included instruction covering both clinical and non-clinical settings for procedural and medical abortions.
It also addressed ways to organize campus communities and build support networks related to abortion services.
The training was part of a broader initiative by YouthASC aimed at expanding access to abortion support training among individuals between the ages of 14 and 24.
Similar programs have been conducted by Advocates for Youth, including online training series and in-person sessions on other campuses.
In addition to training events, the group has hosted panel discussions addressing topics such as abortion funding for minors, challenges faced by young people seeking access to abortion, and regional access to services.
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A spokesperson for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte confirmed to Fox News that the event was organized by a registered student organization.
The university said it provides space for a wide range of student-led events in accordance with applicable policies and legal requirements.
“This particular event was organized and hosted by a registered student organization. The University is a marketplace of ideas, and as a public institution, we provide space on our campus for our students and student organizations to hold a wide range of events and discussions consistent with University and UNC System policies and state and federal law,” the spokesperson said.
The statement also noted that student organizations are required to follow policies related to safety and minors.
“All groups holding events must follow applicable policies, including those related to minors and safety. We remain neutral on the diverse social and political points of view expressed by the more than 450 registered student organizations on our campus. Their events do not represent the views of the University,” the spokesperson added.
Additional reporting cited by Breitbart News stated that individuals working as abortion doulas may offer services either for free, on a sliding scale, or for fees ranging from $200 to $800, according to a 2022 report by KGOU.
The report also referenced earlier coverage, noting that in 2021, two abortion doulas created a children’s book described as presenting abortion as “another outcome of pregnancy.”
According to that report, the authors collaborated with Planned Parenthood and Abortion Care Network to distribute the book to clinics across the United States.