Who We Are

Viable Options® is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, formed by North Country community members with a vision to serve those in our area facing a pregnancy decision. Governed by a local board, we exist primarily to serve those in the greater St. Lawrence County region—though, since our inception, our organizational scope has certainly expanded. The initial idea came in 2009 when a group of local individuals came together to discuss forming an organization that could meaningfully advocate for women and their partners walking through an unintended pregnancy. With a central commitment to operate relationally, the groundwork for Viable Options was laid. However, it was not until 2013 that a board of community members was officially formed; and, in the following year, we held our first fundraising gala.

 

In the fall of 2014, the founding director, Josh McGrath, was brought on to make the initial vision for Viable Options a reality. It was under his direction that, in the early months of 2015, we secured our location at 11 Court Street in Canton, NY. Over the remainder of that year, developing the Viable Options brand, securing a staff, training volunteers, and coordinating marketing efforts became the primary focus. On January 1, 2016, Viable Options officially opened its doors and has been actively engaged in the community ever since. During those foundational years, the vision and approach of Viable Options truly began to emerge. As we thoroughly surveyed the world of pregnancy care, a significant, unmet need became apparent—the need for advocacy and relational support pre decision. 

 

In the experiences of those who had walked through an unintended pregnancy, we began to discern a common thread: a lack of ownership and confidence, frequently heightened by a sense of isolation from their core community. As we sought a means of alleviating this need, it became clear that the tension and polarization surrounding pregnancy decisions had in many ways served to further alienate women and their partners from those they needed most—their family members, friends, neighbors, and peers. Not only that, the numerous and complex pressures they faced seemed often to become lost in the noise of political and moral discourse surrounding pregnancy outcomes.

 

While such discourse is important and ought not to be diminished or dismantled, we realized that it had effectively created a no man’s land in which many felt alone, powerless, and without hope as they grappled with the weight of an unintended pregnancy. From this realization was born a commitment to operate in a unique space within the world of pregnancy care. In order to bring clarity and hope to those facing a pregnancy decision, we would take our stand in No Man’s Land—establishing Viable Options as a voice and an advocate for those overwhelmed by the weight and complexity of an unintended pregnancy. And thus, we found ourselves perfectly positioned not only to offer vital support for women and their partners, but also to act as a unifying voice in this space, bringing together those from all backgrounds and beliefs who, despite their differences, shared a central desire to see fundamental needs met in their community.

 

Today, we continue to passionately pursue innovative solutions for those facing pregnancy decisions and to see bridges built within our local community and throughout the nation, partnering with all who share our vision to restore ownership and to ensure that no one faces a pregnancy decision alone.