What is the Third Option?
The “Third Option” initiative seeks to normalize adoption as a positive option for women facing an unplanned/unintended pregnancy,
especially if she is not equipped or prepared to parent.
Advancing the Adoption Option
There are almost 3 million unplanned pregnancies in the US each year. Of those, just over half will choose to parent. Just under half will terminate. Fewer than 1% choose adoption. The “Third Option” aims to grow that 1%.
The Third Option initiative is two-fold:
to support the woman facing unplanned pregnancy with information about voluntarily choosing adoption today, along with the resources and encouragement needed to make a well-informed decision. We believe this is vital - esp for women who are determined not to parent.
and to improve the care & support available to these ‘birth mothers’, both before and after placement.
Both parts of the plan are needed to increase the 1%. We envision State-administered programs to raise awareness about “open adoption” as an option and improve birth mother care & support. Further, we hope to secure Federal funding for initiation of these programs.
The “Third Option” Coalition believes this healthier option will not only benefit women as individuals; it will also benefit society by creating more healthy, stable families.
WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
MODEL BILLS
Good legislation has been passed in various States to increase adoption education and improve birth mother care. Download model bill templates and modify them for introduction in your State, knowing that they have passed successfully in other State(s).
PROGRAMS
State-level programs managed, staffed, and overseen by your State’s Dept of Health & Welfare or Child Protective Services will increase adoption awareness through education, and improve the care and support of “Birth Mothers,” the women who choose Adoption.
BECOMING A
THIRD OPTION STATE
See our “Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Third Option State.” See how we did this in Idaho, and join us! Learn what you can put in place now, while awaiting Federal funds for these programs.
There are nearly 2,800,000 unplanned pregnancies in the US each year. Of those, almost half choose abortion. Just over half choose to parent.
Fewer than 1% choose adoption.
Anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy should get all the information about all their options. And, we believe that adoption should be an option for the woman who does not plan to parent.