‘It changes things but it doesn’t change things’
By MARK MILLER
While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will have some impact on Bluffton-based Helping Hands, executive director Brandy Aschliman is certain of one thing: The need for their services will not go away.
When the draft decision was leaked in early May, “we watched the reactions to pregnancy resource centers, particular on each coast — the riots, graffiti and threats, and wondered what this might mean for us,” she shared. So it is a question she and her staff have been contemplating.
“It is definitely something to celebrate,” she said. “But it’s a small step in the direction we want this to go, and we do not know yet how it’s all going to play out.” She is referring to the special session later this month of the Indiana Legislature. She and her non-profit agency will be watching closely.
“People are facing unplanned decisions,” she continued, “whether it’s an unplanned pregnancy or a crisis in the family, they need places like Helping Hands more than ever before and this decision doesn’t change that.”
She refers to all the political and social turmoil, the impact of inflation on people already living on a tight budget. On this particular afternoon, she had already fielded two calls from families seeking financial assistance and another call from a woman in a domestic violence situation.
“The Roe decision does not change those peoples’ situations so what I really want people to know is that the court’s decision doesn’t change our need for support by any means. We need more volunteers and more financial support than ever before because the way the nation is going creates separation and desperation. Desperate people make desperate decisions.”
Aschliman founded Helping Hands in 2011 as a pregnancy resource center.
“We’ve dropped that from our name because we found we could not just focus just on the baby,” she explained. “We focus on the family — that means the father, the mother and the baby. With the Roe decision, we are celebrating saving the infants but what we are doing for the mom and dad, that’s just as crucial.”
The agency offers a variety of family counseling services including parenting classes in addition to their pregnancy resources and abortion counseling. Helping Hands opened its second office in Montpelier in 2016.
She is not sure exactly what to hope for in what the state legislature decides. She is aware some states have set a total ban, while Ohio passed what is referred to as a “heartbeat law,” which means abortions are permitted until a heartbeat is detected in the fetus.
“That can happen somewhere in the five-to-six week period,” she said. “This can get complicated because it varies and then who wants to make that call? It pushes people into a corner of desperation. They have to make that decision quickly when we don’t know what the outcome is going to be.”
The young mothers who find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy who come to Helping Hands generally fall into two categories. A small percentage are what she calls “abortion determined” — they’ve made up their mind and have a plan but want to talk to someone about it. The larger group are what Aschliman calls “abortion vulnerable.”
“They might come from generational poverty; they’re desperate and they might see abortion as their only choice,” she explained. “Anyone I’ve met in the past 10 years who has had an abortion, not one of them told me it was a good decision. They told me it was their only choice.”
That is where Helping Hands comes in, using their resources and other resources in the community to walk through those choices.
“We may not always agree with what their decision is, but we still care about them,” she said.
So, what’s the best route for the state to take in regards to abortion?
“Honestly, I don’t know,” she replied, “and I think the fact that they delayed the session means they’re not sure either.”
Aschliman makes it clear she believes that no abortions should be allowed at all, but also recognizes that it is a complicated, perplexing issue. She is acutely aware of the instances of the mother’s health and complications of difficult pregnancies.
“God created us with free will,” she said, “and although I may not agree with a decision someone would make, I am still required to love them. I do not ever want to create condemnation upon someone because of a decision they made.”
Whatever the Indiana Legislature decides, “we will deal with it,” Aschliman said. The entire situation — the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the state’s impending decisions regarding abortion restrictions — “changes things but it doesn’t change things because people are still going to be in these situations and they will need education and they will need support. It may slow the process down but it won’t change the process.”
The mother of three — two of her own and an adopted child — admitted to some frustration coming out of the court’s decision.
“I’ve seen so much celebration, the demonstrations and social media posts but I haven’t seen that kind of surge of support locally,” she said. “I just haven’t seen that connection.” She would like to hear from others in the community who say they support the pro-life agenda.
“We need to work together more to better our community,” she concluded.
miller@news-banner.com
