Training for Abortion Doulas Offered to Youth
A group is set to provide training for abortion doulas at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in November, specifically aimed at individuals aged 14 to 24. This development unfolds as advocates for abortion services work towards normalizing the procedure.
The event, planned for November 15 and 16, 2025, was highlighted in an invitation from the organizing group. It emphasizes their eagerness for the upcoming abortion support training, designed for young people. Participants will receive foundational knowledge on tools and resources for providing support related to abortion.
The training will cater to youth and introduce them to abortion advocacy, particularly for high school and college students. It will cover how to act as a support person or companion, and it will touch upon continuing advocacy once participants leave their educational environments.
Dopo describes an abortion doula as someone who can offer physical, emotional, and spiritual support before, during, and after an abortion. The training intends to explore various support methods, whether in clinical settings or not, along with ways to foster community support networks.
The invitation notes that this initiative is organized by Advocates for Youth’s Youth Abortion Support Collective, a national group of youth focusing on abortion support, in partnership with Dopo, which functions as an abortion education platform.
Additionally, an event was noted on Instagram, which contributed to raising awareness about the training.
Reports indicate that abortion doulas may offer their services for free or on a sliding scale but could charge anywhere between $200 to $800 for their support.
It’s worth mentioning that the focus on recruiting young people for the abortion industry is deliberate. In 2021, a report highlighted a children’s book authored by two abortion doulas that seeks to normalize abortion as a routine consequence of pregnancy. This initiative reportedly collaborates with Planned Parenthood and the Abortion Care Network to distribute the book in various clinics across the nation.
Meanwhile, a number of family planning facilities have been closing or planning closures for 2025, as efforts to defund such services are in play. Recent data revealed a significant number of abortions last year, with increases noted in mail-order abortions, especially in states with pro-life legislation. Estimates from the Guttmacher Institute suggest a slight uptick in anticipated abortions for 2025 compared to the previous year.
