Crisis pregnancy center

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), also known as pregnancy resource centers, are non-profit organizations established by pro-life supporters that work to discourage pregnant women from choosing abortion and provide them with information regarding its alternatives. Most exist in the United States, and many provide some degree of supportive service to pregnant or parenting women. Many crisis pregnancy centers are affiliated with pro-life Christian groups. Those which are may be affiliated with a specific church, or the center may operate as a parachurch organization. Crisis pregnancy centers have undergone harsh criticism for alleged deceptive tactics and harassment (see below).

Services
Depending on its size, resources, and affiliation, a crisis pregnancy center may provide the following services:


 * Pregnancy tests
 * Ultrasound of the fetus(es)
 * Education about fetal development, pregnancy, and childbirth
 * Sexually transmitted disease information and/or testing
 * Adoption information and referrals
 * Information favorable to the pro-life view about abortion procedures and their alleged risks
 * Post-abortion counseling and Bible study for women who have recently terminated a pregnancy
 * Maternity and baby clothing
 * Religious literature, including Bibles
 * Referrals: medical, legal, housing, social agencies, professional counseling
 * Information: jobs and career development, child care, abstinence, marriage

Most CPCs provide services on a free and confidential basis to any woman, regardless of race, ethnicity, marital status, or religion. The few receiving federal funding are required to do so by law. Crisis pregnancy centers are obligated under applicable state law to notify local police of any suspected cases of sexual assault or statutory rape. In contrast to other reproductive health centers, such as those operated by Planned Parenthood, CPCs generally do not provide referrals for abortion or contraceptives; this policy reflects the pro-life mission of CPC operators. However, CPCs do provide information about contraceptive failure rates and medical information about pregnancy. A small number of CPCs are affiliated with maternity houses, or temporary homes for pregnant women and young mothers in crisis.

Funding
Centers usually have a director, who may be a full-time paid employee, along with a volunteer staff. Funding and resources are generally provided by churches, individuals and businesses that support the pro-life cause, matching gifts from employers, and grants. Some centers are members of United Way of America and receive designated gifts as well as a percentage of non-designated gifts. Fundraising is often used as well.

Some centers receive federal funding. The Washington Post reported that over $60 million dollars of federal funds have been given to crisis pregnancy centers since 2001.

State-regulated funding is available for many CPCs through the sale of "Choose Life" license plates. In the 17 states currently offering them, motorists can request these plates and pay an extra fee, which is used by the state to fund crisis pregnancy centers and pro-adoption groups.

Heartbeat International, Care Net, and Birthright International are three of the major organizations with national networks of crisis pregnancy centers in the North America. The largest UK organisations are CareConfidential and LifeUK.

Criticism
Crisis pregnancy centers are the subject of intense criticism, with allegations that CPCs are deliberately ambiguous in their descriptions of their services, and that CPCs provide false or misleading information about abortion to women who enter the premises.

On March 30, 2006, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced a bill called the "Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services Act", which aims to hold crisis pregnancy centers up to truth in advertising standards. In addition to abortion rights groups like NARAL, critics of the approaches used by many centers have included the Texas Attorney General, the South Dakota Supreme Court, the Federal Centers for Disease Control, and some Pro-Life groups, such as Birthright, which operates similar centers.

On July 17, 2006, a Congressional investigative report was released by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee. The report, titled False and Misleading Health Information Provided by Federally Funded Pregnancy Resource Centers states that 20 out of the 23 federally-funded CPCs contacted misled or provided false information to investigators who called posing as pregnant 17-year-olds seeking advice about an unintended pregnancy. Furthermore, the Committee report only applies to the small number of CPCs receiving federal tax dollars. At the time of Rep. Waxman's investigation, only 50 CPCs had received federal funding, and the Committee neither investigated nor drew any conclusions regarding over 2,200 CPCs in U.S. not receiving federal grant funding.

Critics, such as Planned Parenthood, charge that CPCs portray themselves as "medical facilities" when they do not have professional licensing from local or state health departments, and are staffed primarily with volunteers rather than medical professionals. Without licenses, these centers cannot provide well-woman exams, prenatal care, or medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, nor can they provide prescriptions or refills for contraceptives. Critics claim that the only purpose of these centers is to discourage women from choosing abortion. In fact, many centers are licensed medical facilities, that operate with the help of doctors and nurses who volunteer their time and efforts free of charge. CPC's are increasingly seeking to become medical facilities so that they can offer ultrasounds to pregnant women, an effective tool in educating women about fetal development and discouraging abortion.

US government

 * Text of False and Misleading Health Information Provided by Federally Funded Pregnancy Resource Centers, a Congressional investigative report prepared for Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
 * Text of Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Services Act introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14)

Press

 * Pregnancy Centers Found to Give False Information on Abortion Washington Post (print view, no photos)
 * Antiabortion Centers Offer Sonograms to Further Cause Washington Post (print view, no photos)
 * Grants Flow To Bush Allies On Social Issues Washington Post (print view, no photos)