Text line that helps teens with parental consent waivers for abortions expects more demand
North Carolina is one of 35 states where anyone under the age of 18 seeking an abortion has two options: obtain permission from a parent or legal guardian, or obtain a judicial waiver.
TextAbby, a free, confidential text line operated by the Carolina Abortion Fund, walks teenagers through the process of applying for a judicial waiver. Volunteers then connect teens with lawyers who can help them.
The text line, which is operated in partnership with the ACLU of North Carolina, operates from 9 a.m. to noon daily.
Deborah Effon, a fund board member, said Text Abby has been operational for three years, but it is seeing increased demand following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The text line, 844-997-2229, helps those in both North and South Carolina, Effon said.
In South Carolina, Republican legislators have been pushing for additional restrictions on abortions, and a federal judge’s ruling this week puts a six-week abortion ban in effect, The State newspaper in Columbia reported.
Approximately 2 of 3 teens ages 15-19 learn they’re pregnant at six weeks or later, according to a study published by the University of California San Francisco.
The ACLU of North Carolina expects to see an increase in South Carolina teens contacting Text Abby for help, legal director Kristi Graunke told The Charlotte Observer.
South Carolina teens will be especially affected by restrictions North Carolina has in place for abortion, Graunke said.
The restrictions include mandated state counseling and a 72-hour waiting period, making it burdensome for those traveling to North Carolina from another state, she said.
“This is going to be a huge imposition on, we’re talking about (what) we’ve seen in other states, people as young as 10 who need abortion care,” Graunke said. “So just understanding how very young some people can be when they’re in this situation of having to make a very difficult decision about what’s right for them.”
The process that allows teens to obtain these judicial waivers will remain unchanged despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade, because it is codified in North Carolina law, Graunke said.
A common misconception has about judicial waivers, Graunke said, is that minors use them to obtain abortions in a “whimsical fashion.” However, this isn’t true, she said.
To obtain a waiver of parental consent and court authorization to proceed with an abortion, a minor must show:
▪ they’re mature and well-informed enough to make the abortion decision on their own;
▪ that it would be in their best interest that parental consent not be required;
▪ or that they’re a victim of rape or felonious incest under North Carolina law.
“It’s not a rubber-stamp procedure, and you can imagine how difficult that can be for young people coming before a court (as) they’re already (in a) very frightening and difficult time for many people,” Graunke said.
The reversal of Roe v. Wade will mean fewer teens have access to abortion in their home states, Graunke said, however they can still obtain judicial waivers in North Carolina.
If someone doesn’t reside in the state, that doesn’t necessarily disqualify them from seeking a judicial waiver, Graunke said. They just have to be present in the county they applied for, for their hearing.
“I’m hopeful that we in North Carolina will be able to help people coming in from out of state to give them a safe place to make these difficult decisions and to pursue this care,” Graunke said.
This story was originally published July 15, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
