Justice + Joy was founded as The National Florence Crittenton Mission in 1883 on the principles of what we now know as Reproductive Justice: the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities (as defined by SisterSong). Without bodily autonomy and self-determination; social, economic, and political justice for girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people–especially those of color and system-impacted–cannot be realized. 

Our research, advocacy, and organizing work around reproductive freedom includes dismantling deficit narratives about young mothers and pregnant/parenting young people, and ensuring that policies and systems provide the supports and services young families need in order to thrive.

In Our Words: The Impact of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade on Girls, Young Women, and Gender-Expansive Young People of Color is a report that curates the reproductive justice conversation among girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people of color who are already parenting, who are not yet ready to parent, who need healthcare simply because it is a necessity, and who will not remain silent as their most basic human rights are stripped away by people in positional power so far removed from the reality of their lives and the needs of their communities. 
Immediately following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and thanks to the Hearthland Foundation, we launched the Reproductive Freedom Fund to provide emergency funds for healthcare to 1) staff, board, youth/young adult and consultant partners in the Crittenton community in 37 states to have the financial resources and support needed to access care; and 2) young people in foster care, involved with the youth legal system, and who are detained as unaccompanied minors across the country.