Reproductive Rights and Health Care Advocacy in Missouri
Abortion Action Missouri (AAM) is the leading grassroots pro-abortion advocacy organization in Missouri. We envision a world with stigma-free abortion access and reproductive freedom for all. We work to foster and sustain a Midwest movement for control of our bodies, lives, and futures. AAM has proudly run the Clinic Escort Program for the St. Louis metro area, including Southern Illinois, for over 37 years.
The Clinic Escort Program
Are you interested in supporting people who want access to sexual and reproductive health care? Abortion Action Missouri is looking for you! We need committed and passionate people to join our Clinic Escort program. Clinic escorts are crucial volunteers who help patients get to their abortion appointments in a safe and timely manner. These volunteers play a critical role in providing both a physical sense of security and a calming presence for patients.
Volunteer Requirements and Training
- Those interested in becoming clinic escorts must be 18 years or older.
- Candidates must attend our training and sign all necessary waivers before beginning.
- AAM clinic escorts follow a strict no engagement policy, meaning we do not interact with protestors.
- Each escort generally fulfills one to two shifts per month.
We will be conducting an in-person Clinic Escort Training on September 19, beginning at 6:00pm. This training is a required first step to being placed on a Clinic Escort Team. Address is provided upon RSVP.
Missouri Supreme Court Ruling on Planned Parenthood Funding
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that a provision in a state appropriations bill that would have deprived Planned Parenthood of millions of dollars for medical services reimbursements is unconstitutional. At issue is House Bill 2011, which is the Department of Social Services appropriations bill for the fiscal year of 2019. Missouri’s GOP-dominated Legislature passed the bill, which states, "No funds shall be expended to any abortion facility as defined in Section 188.015, or any affiliate or associate thereof."
Legal Findings
Judge Paul C. Wilson wrote for the majority that the language seeking to disqualify certain authorized providers is a clear and unmistakable violation of the proscription in article III, section 23 of the Missouri Constitution against bills with multiple subjects. The court’s ruling severs the provision at issue from the rest of the bill. "Today is a victory for Planned Parenthood patients who rely on public health insurance programs to stay healthy," said M’Evie Mead, director of policy and organizing at Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri.
Planned Parenthood health centers across the state have protected our communities’ health care needs by providing preventive services to thousands of patients. While Planned Parenthood provides birth control services along with other health services, only one clinic in the state offers abortions.
Summary of Organizations and Legal Status
| Entity | Role/Action |
| Abortion Action Missouri | Leading grassroots pro-abortion advocacy organization running clinic escort programs. |
| Missouri Supreme Court | Ruled that defunding Planned Parenthood via appropriations bills is unconstitutional. |
| Planned Parenthood | Provides birth control and preventive services; successfully appealed funding denial. |