Inspiration
It is not always feasible or safe for a minor to involve their parent(s) in their decision to have an abortion. If minors cannot get parental consent, then they need to go through the judicial bypass process in which they meet with a judge and explain they are mature and responsible enough to have an abortion. The Defender Association of Philadelphia Child Advocacy Unit (CAU) represents all minors in Philadelphia in judicial bypass hearings at Family Court. While interning at the CAU, our project manager completed the intake for all of the judicial bypass clients, answered their questions, went to court to support them, and helped them navigate scheduling appointments and getting funding. In speaking with the minors, our project leader got an inside understanding on how difficult it is to navigate the judicial bypass process, how inaccessible the legal timeline and language is, and what the practical issues clients were facing (funding, transportation, etc). With that in mind, we set out to create an informational judicial bypass website for minors in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing comprehensive information and resources for minors seeking to obtain an abortion without involving their parents.
What it does
From finding a provider to navigating the judicial bypass process and obtaining funding, we aim to provide minors with the information needed to make informed decisions about their reproductive health care. The website includes five main features: (1) Understanding how to access an abortion without parental consent - This section provides an overview of what a judicial bypass is. Navigating the judicial bypass process allows minors to access abortion care confidentially and safely, ensuring autonomy over their reproductive health decisions without requiring parental consent. (2) Reviewing the judicial bypass process and legal requirements - We understand that contacting an attorney and going to court can be a scary and overwhelming process. Learn more about the steps involved in the judicial bypass process, what a judicial bypass hearing looks like, and what kind of information your attorney and the judge will ask about. (3) Exploring clinics and their services - Our interactive map is designed to help you easily locate abortion clinics in the Philadelphia and surrounding area. Scroll through to view clinics’ contact information, timeline for pill and surgical abortions, and information on how to schedule the mandatory informational session and to schedule abortion procedures. (4) Learning about abortion funds - Financial concerns should never be a barrier to healthcare, including abortion services. Learn about available financial assistance programs and resources that can help cover the costs of the procedure, regardless of your financial situation. (5) Contacting an Attorney - Get connected with an attorney through the Defenders Association of Philadelphia Child advocacy unit to support minors through the judicial bypass process and answer their questions.
How we built it
This project was built using a customized template from HTML 5 UP and Javascript. We use MapTiler for the embedded map, and firebase for the custom map data.
Challenges we ran into
Integrating MapTiler into the site.
What's next for Abortions for Minors: Judicial Bypasses in Philadelphia
Before this website is posted for the public to access, we will share it privately with the Defender Association, Women's Law Project, and the abortion clinics mentioned within for their feedback. After making any necessary updates the website will go live for minors, attorneys, and health providers to reference! In the long-term, the Penn Law If/When/How Lawyering For Reproductive Justice organization is planning to expand this website to include information on clinics across the state of Pennsylvania, review the judicial bypass process in other areas of the state that have virtual hearings, and add additional information.
The website will need a domain and web hosting before it is able to be live to the public. The website can be scaled to cover the rest of Pennsylvania.
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