ACN History

Our History

The Abortion Care Network (ACN) began operating July 2008.  Its founders have been leaders in two other non-profit organizations that serve the needs of independent abortion care providers, the National Coalition of Abortion Providers (NCAP) and the Abortion Conversation Project (ACP).  ACN will continue the educational programming and networking started by NCAP and ACP.

Active members of ACN are driving the organization toward creating quality abortion care by sharing protocols, handouts, and trainings through the member section of this website. ACN leadership wants us, as an organization, to explore what makes us passionate about our work. The majority of ACN members are independent clinic owners and staff who are forward thinking and desire to use this growing network to be a force for social change. ACN encourages clinics to not only pay attention to our practice of abortion, but also to engage in our communities to challenge the stigma that faces women when they leave our doors. The ACN newsletters, websites, listservs, webinars and conferences are all important ways we network with each other about quality care.

With the work of all three organizations complementing one another, ACN leadership feels confident that we are evolving to successfully address the growing needs of independent abortion providers.  By building a supportive network with our allies including non-profit organizations, professional associations, grassroot groups and individuals, we believe that we will grow stronger as advocates for our patients.

The Abortion Conversation Project, formed in 2000, is the 501 (c) 3 private foundation which serves a "sister" to ACN. ACP specifically works to de-stigmatize abortion through conversations in many venues. ACP also provides funding for training and handouts for clinics on a variety of issues. Programs include the Mom, Dad, I’m Pregnant Project (www.MomDadIMpregnant.org), Promoting Post Abortion Emotional Health project (Healthy Coping After an Abortion and Especially for Men handouts), and Choice Links, an extensive links section that offers consumers access to unbiased and accurate information about reproductive health and choice on the internet. ACP website, www.abortionconversation.org offers discussion guides for individuals and communities.

The National Coalition of Abortion Providers was formed in July 1990 by a small group of independent abortion providers who sought to have their own political voice in Washington, DC. Over the next several years, NCAP grew from a part time Capitol Hill lobbying effort to a national trade organization that aggressively represented the interests of its membership. NCAP members include large and small facilities, physician and non-physician owned sites, and both profit and non-profit facilities. NCAP members are now ACN members and NCAP has been dissolved.