4 years after Dobbs: How to volunteer in the pro-life safety net
Today marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Four years later, this historic pro-life victory continues to inspire everyday pro-life Americans to protect the unborn, empower women, and offer hope to families across our nation.
Dobbs is proof that the work of the pro-life movement makes a difference. The landmark case unlocked new opportunities to defend the rights of every human, born or unborn. Now it is incumbent on us to seize the opportunity through both policy and personal sacrifice.
For over 50 years, the pro-life safety net and the compassionate volunteers serving moms and babies have given their time, their love and their gifts to support the women who courageously reject abortion. They walk alongside her in the hard places of life so she can plan for her future without resorting to abortion.
Our movement boasts over 3,000 pregnancy centers and maternity homes nationwide, but that’s just the beginning. The pro-life safety net includes a robust network of charities ready to step in to meet her specific concerns. Often, it’s not the pregnancy or the baby causing her to consider abortion; it’s the troubling circumstances she is facing. That’s why life-affirming charities that address mental health, childcare, domestic violence, transportation, food and clothing are all a critical part of the pro-life safety net.
The engine that powers these organizations is the volunteers who care enough to sacrifice their own time to make a difference. And, post-Dobbs, the importance of this army of volunteers has only increased.
Five years ago, few would have predicted that pro-abortion amendments would begin legalizing abortion up until birth in state constitutions nationwide. Moreover, the removal of basic safeguards on dangerous abortion drugs, including mass distribution of abortion drugs through the mail, has resulted in higher abortion rates today than prior to Dobbs.
We know that a majority of women who resort to abortion do so because they feel they have no other option. Research confirms that six out of 10 women who have a history of abortion say they would have chosen life if they had more resources or support.
A robust pro-life safety net is needed now more than ever, and there is a role for virtually every skillset. To make finding your place in the pro-life safety net even easier, Her PLAN's new “Pathways” initiative connects pro-life Americans with concrete ways to serve women and babies in their community.
This collection of service models equips volunteers, community leaders, and everyday Americans with easy step-by-step models to meet the practical needs of local women. The site matches volunteers with opportunities that align with their gifts. It also guides leaders to form new ministries and shares creative opportunities to financially meet her practical needs like car repairs.
Through efforts like these, pro-life advocates hope to counter rising abortion rates and show American women that their pro-life neighbors are there for them while also offering pro-life advocates the chance to use their unique gifts to empower women who choose life.
Bad abortion policy results in direct harm to women. Rising abortion rates are tragic reminders that we must continue to work to ensure women and their children have the support they deserve. The rise in demand for pregnancy center services post-Dobbs, which saw over one million new clients in 2024, proves that compassionate support to meet her specific needs works — and it’s what women want.
Dobbs was the fruit of decades of pro-life advocacy paired with compassionate care for mothers. Many of the original volunteers who stepped up to form the first pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and pro-life lobbying groups did not live to see Roe overturned.
We are the heirs of their legacy. Every mother supported, and every baby saved, and every community of support is proof that the culture of life is continuously strengthening and transforming lives.
Dobbs is a reminder that meaningful change often unfolds over generations. Through the pro-life safety net and opportunities like Pathways, I am confident that current and future generations will continue to invest in a robust pro-life safety net rooted in the dignity of both women and their unborn children.
What is your place in the pro-life safety-net? How will you serve your pregnant or parenting neighbor in the post-Dobbs era?
Autumn Christensen is the Executive Director of Her PLAN, an initiative to connect and grow the pro-life safety net of support for moms and their babies.
