A Texas Leader In Reproductive Rights Reaches Milestone

Next month, the reproductive rights organization Jane’s Due Process will be celebrating their 25th anniversary and at the landmark gala the organization will officially unveil a new name. While their moniker may change, the mission: supporting Texas teens in accessing reproductive health care, remains the same.

Jane’s Due Process was launched in 2001after the first parental involvement laws were passed in the state of Texas. At the time, if a young person wanted an abortion parental consent was required, and the only bypass involved appearing before a judge. Jane’s Due Process was formed through the first pro bono attorneys that provided support for the young people appearing before the judge.

But the landscape for reproductive health care has changed dramatically in Texas. And naturally, Jane’s Due Process has changed as well. Even before Roe v. Wade upended abortion rights throughout the country, Texas was under a near-total abortion ban when Senate Bill 8 went into effect on September 1, 2021.

Like many other reproductive health organizations in Texas, Jane’s Due Process paused their work in June 2022 after the Dobbs decision instigated trigger laws that catapulted the state into legal uncertainty. But the next year, Jane’s Due Process resumed their work under a new restructured plan. But the central ethos of the organization is still there: centering young people and their interests.

As Jane’s Due Process gears up for their anniversary, their Executive Director Lucie Arvallo spoke with Texas Signal about the lessons learned and what’s next for an organization serving in a state that is still passing legislation restricting abortion care and access to contraception.  

“The number one thing we’ve learned is there is value in letting young people lead,” said Arvallo. “So often young people are relegated to the idea that adults know what’s best for them and reproductive health options.”

Jane’s Due Process now helps young people navigating reproductive care out of state. That includes more than financial assistance, like helping with lodging or companion care. Arvallo notes that for many of young people, this might be the first time encountering airport.

There’s also a reproductive health line that Jane’s Due Process maintains. It’s a hotline and text line where any person can reach out to ask stigma-free questions. For Arvallo, that resource is needed in a state like Texas. Recently, Jane’s Due Process co-partnered on a survey of 100 young girls in Texas to ask about where they get their sexual health information from. “The number one thing we heard is that they are afraid to ask questions because [they might get] in trouble,” said Arvallo.

According to Arvallo, when Jane’s Due Process restructured in 2023, they really emerged as a one-stop shop for reproductive care. This also includes launching their Empowering Young Parents program two years ago, which provides doula assistance and virtual programming. The organization is also a leader at providing contraception to young Texans, which has become even more necessary in light of restrictions on Title X clinics in the state.

The political future of Texas could change. And the actual name behind Jane’s Due Process will definitely change in Austin on October 10. But what’s not changing is the central tenet of the organization. “No matter who is in power, Jane’s Due Process is going to be here to support you no matter what your reproductive health journey looks like, and we’ll continue to be here and we’re confident in our ability to be resilient in the most difficult legal landscape,” stresses Arvallo.