Laws surrounding abortion are frequently the center of controversy. This is true of the Parental Notification of Abortion (PNA ) Act as well. This act requires a legal parent or guardian to be notified of a legal minor’s abortion before it happens. This law requires parental notification, not parental consent.

But lately, it’s come under fire in Illinois. Bills such as House Bill 1797 (Moeller, D – Elgin) & Senate Bill 2190 (Sims, D – Chicago) were recently introduced to attempt to repeal this law. While the law still stands, it’s important to understand just how vital Parental Notification is in order to protect teen mothers and their unborn children.

For 40 years, Caring Network has walked alongside women facing unexpected pregnancies—meeting them with dignity, clarity, and care. We’ve learned that when a woman is supported—truly supported—with medical care, spiritual guidance, and a community that believes in her, life becomes a choice she can see. Our clinics across Illinois offer free, confidential services designed to meet women where they are: in fear, in isolation, sometimes in crisis. We also know that parents and guardians often carry their own burden during this time. Through our C.A.R.E. pathway, we reach women first, renew their hope, and walk with them long after a decision is made—because real care doesn’t end at a moment. It transforms futures. If you’re ready to be part of a movement that makes abortion obsolete through presence, not pressure, we’d love to connect with you.

Parental Notification – Why It’s Important

Think about all the times you’ve heard someone reference the “hard cases” to justify abortion. She’s too young. She has to finish school. She can’t afford a child, etc. What people are saying in these cases is that abortion is not an expression of a women’s choice. Rather, it’s a sign that she has no choice. Advocates of Parental Notice are also worried about how repealing this law will endanger young girls who are the victims of sex trafficking or abuse. Without laws like the Parental Notification of Abortion Act, a twenty-year-old man could take a thirteen-year-old girl he’s not related to into an abortion facility and her legal guardian would be unaware. Legal minors need their parent’s protection and guidance as they make major life decisions. The absence of parents in these kinds of situations raises a red flag.

You can’t have a choice without options. Teenagers often do not have the resources to provide themselves with multiple options in a crisis pregnancy. Fortunately, a parent or guardian may be able to provide a young mother with resources. Parents are the ones who can financially support a young teen facing an unexpected pregnancy. They can help provide child care, emotional support, and guidance, or even help through an adoption process. A parent who already has a child will likely know the facts about fetal development. They will know that an unborn baby isn’t just a clump of cells. They can tell a young teenager that their unborn baby has a beating heart 22 days after conception. Or measurable brain activity 6 weeks after conception. A baby can suck its thumb 9 weeks after conception. And even has a face that can be seen on an ultrasound 10 weeks after conception. Even if a teenager decides to have an abortion, a parent needs to know about the potential health consequences that may follow after their procedure, both physical and emotional. Instead, this law would allow teenagers to keep their abortions a secret.

The Effects of Parental Notification

Opponents of Parental Notice laws assert that parental notice is unnecessary. They feel that teens can just tell their parents about their unplanned pregnancies regardless. However, this is not true if they’re being trafficked. It’s not true if they’re scared about what their parents might think. Not if a boyfriend is coercing them. The assertion that legal minors will just tell their parents anyways is just that: an assertion that is impossible to prove and which in some cases is almost certainly false. For example, after the Parental Notice Act was passed in Illinois, the number of abortions performed on legal minors in Illinois dropped significantly. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, abortions on minors have dropped 57% since 2013 when the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act took effect, compared with just a 15% decline in the general population. If legal minors were already telling their parents about their pregnancies, then the Parental Notice law should have had no effect.

But the PNA act did have an effect. Of course, frightened teenagers aren’t telling their parents that they’re pregnant, even if it would be in their own best interests. Having that conversation with parents is hard! But without it, legal minors are left hiding their unwanted pregnancies. And the only way to do that is through abortion. They are not being empowered with “choice.” Without their parent’s help, it’s natural for legal minors to feel like they have no choice but to terminate their pregnancy. Involving the parents is all about giving legal minors other options that will protect both the unborn and their young parents.

Caring Network is here to do just that – protect the unborn, while coming alongside women, their partners, and their families. For 40 years, we have been providing compassionate care to women of all ages facing unplanned pregnancies in the Chicagoland area. Our pregnancy resource centers are a safe haven of support and resources. If you’d like to learn more about our mission to reach more women and save more lives: