Angela Franey, executive director of Abria Pregnancy Resources, said the Supreme Court’s June 24 abortion decision overturning Roe v. Wade is a step in the right direction.

“We can celebrate every step that our nation takes,” she said. But as some people protest the decision, “we will remain joyfully and hopefully diligent in protecting our staff, and in making sure that it’s a safe place for women to receive the support we have to offer.”

About 30 protesters were present during office hours June 18, Franey said. Peaceful protesters are allowed on public areas including sidewalks, just as prolife advocates gather in front of Planned Parenthood locations, Franey said. But when people cross onto private property or shout at clients, police are called, she said.

Abria, with locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, offers lab-quality pregnancy tests, ultrasounds performed by trained medical personnel, medical consultation, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Non-medical services include pregnancy and parenting education, personal support services, life coaching, material assistance, referrals to community resources and more. All at no charge.

The women coming to Abria choose what services they want or don’t want, Franey said, and whether they want adoption, parenting or abortion. “We believe they will make the very best choice for themselves.” Franey said her organization wants to remove barriers so women can choose life “and we put a choice for life within reach.”

The Minnesota Supreme Court found a right to abortion in its 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision, and some women living in states that ban the procedure are expected to travel to Minnesota for abortions.

Franey said her staff recently participated in a training program focused on “abortion-determined women” to better understand their mindset and needs, and “hopefully, be able to offer that message of hope” to women traveling from other states.” “It’s one of the ways we’ve been preparing for a day like today,” she said.

Abria’s digital marketing also becomes more important in the wake of the Dobbs decision, Franey said. If more women from other states travel to Minnesota for an abortion, reaching them digitally on their phone will be important in delivering messages about Abria’s services, she said. If a woman uses a search engine on her phone to search for terms like abortion or “the pill,” Franey wants Abria to pop up in search results as a resource for more information.

“She can get a pregnancy test, and accurate, informed information about all of her options,” Franey said. “That will be one of the few ways that we’ll be able to reach them.”

Abria staff love and support women, Franey said, “and giving them an opportunity to choose life is something, I think, every woman should have.”