PATIENT COMMENTS:
" i cannot begin to tell you how appreciative of all of this i am. i never knew there were people like this that could be so generous and understanding about my situation that have never even met me. thank you so much for all of your help, i will give you a call and keep you updated. again, thank you.. thank you, thank you. " - W.W. 2007
:::because choice means nothing without access:::
In most states, Medicaid rarely covers abortion. Yet the cost of a first-trimester abortion can be more than a family on public assistance receives in a month. Even many working women do not have enough extra money for an abortion. Poor women and girls delay their abortions as they try to scrape together the money they need. Often, these delays can force them into more expensive and complicated second-trimester abortions. Sometimes, they never get the money they need. As many as one in three poor women, who would obtain an abortion if the state paid for it, are forced to carry the pregnancy to term because they do not have the money to pay the cost of a safe, legal abortion. In Tennessee, our state healthcare, TENNCARE, never covers abortion in any circumstance.
The right to choose abortion is meaningless without access to abortion services.
Restrictions on access and funding are discriminatory because they especially burden poor women, young women, women of color and rural women
Abortion is a component of basic healthcare, which is a right that should be guaranteed to all through an expanded state program or another universal national healthcare plan.
We must act now to support women who want abortions and cannot afford them. We provide direct financial assistance and support to these women.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Equal Access Fund of East Tennessee
The Equal Access Fund of East Tennessee believes that the right to choose abortion is meaningless without access to abortion services. Restrictions ..ion access and funding are discriminatory because they especially burden poor women, young women and women of color. We will stand up for these women who otherwise would turn to illegal and/or risky alternatives when unable to access legal abortion. We oppose all efforts to restrict abortion rights and are committed to fighting for access to abortion for all women. We truly believe that it is the responsibility of the government to educate and fund contraception options as well as abortion. We believe that abortion is a component of basic healthcare and is a right that should be guaranteed to all through an expanded state program or the introduction of a universal healthcare plan. With the reality of the government not aiding in this crucial area, we must act now on a grassroots level to support women who want abortions but cannot afford them.
EAF of Tennessee was created for the following purposes:
* to provide direct financial assistance to low income women & girls who wish to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, but can't raise the funds to obtain a safe and legal abortion, and to dispense these funds in an equitable manner
* to raise public awareness of the devastating impact of denying access to safe and legal abortion services
* to support ongoing efforts to restore public funding of abortion in conjunction with The National Network of Abortion Funds
Equal Access Fund of East Tennessee
(865) 455-9949 (contact: Heather Robinson)
[email protected]
