Oakland, Calif.-based Post-Abortion Telephone Counseling Service Expands Across USA

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 07 Jun 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The Oakland, California-based post-abortion telephone counseling service... Exhale, which was started in 2000 and previously served only women in the San Francisco Bay area, on Wednesday became available to women nationwide, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports (Leff, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/2). The free, confidential talk line -- 1-866-4-EXHALE -- aims to be "pro-voice" and give women an opportunity to discuss their abortion experiences free from politics, according to Exhale Executive Director Aspen Baker, a 29-year-old abortion-rights supporter who co-founded the group (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 5/29). She said the service is nonjudgmental, adding, "It's not about turning someone pro-choice or antiabortion. It's about listening and valuing and respecting" (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/2). Baker also said, "Exhale fills the void for many women who find themselves stuck in the middle of the ideological and politicized battle around abortion," adding, "We allow callers to talk freely about their experience with abortion, without judgment. Exhale operates with respect for the social, cultural and religious beliefs of all of our callers." The talk line is available to women who have had an abortion, as well as to their partners and families (Exhale release, 5/27). The group has an annual budget of about $250,000 -- including grant money from the California Endowment and the Women's Foundation of California -- and operates with two full-time staff members and 25 volunteer counselors, the Tribune reports. The group also provides training to other organizations nationwide on incorporating post-abortion peer counseling into their programs (Oakland Tribune, 5/29). Exhale served about 700 people in the San Francisco area in 2004, and Baker said she expects to have about 3,000 callers nationwide each year (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/2).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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