The Special Session for the Indiana General Assembly starts on Monday. During this session, legislators will vote to change Indiana state law on reproductive health to be in accordance with the SCOTUS overruling of Roe v. Wade. These policy changes will likely create significant barriers to reproductive healthcare for Hoosiers. The bill currently as written would ban nearly all access to abortions in the state of Indiana. The bill only provides exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities, and where the life of the mother is in danger. If the bill passes in its current form, Indiana would be home to one of the greatest restrictions to abortion in the US. The full bill, SB1, "Abortion" can be accessed here. As a youth intermediary, we see every day how our state fails to serve youth and families. MCCOY opposes any legislative decisions imposing additional restrictions on reproductive healthcare as they will exacerbate these failures and result in dire consequences for families and young people. As a commitment to continue our advocacy and action to support youth and families, we have assembled resources and action items below where you can find more data reflective of the current status of youth, examining the potential adverse impact of this legislation on families. We will also be sharing more information on social media in the coming weeks, breaking down the policy changes as SB1 passes through the Statehouse. We will continue to educate around best practices, preventative strategies and addressing equity in supporting youth and families. MCCOY will remain a voice for ensuring youth and families can thrive in our Hoosier state. | |
