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Crisis pregnancy centerCrisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), also known as pregnancy resource centers,[1][2] are non-profit organizations established by pro-life supporters that work to persuade pregnant women to give birth rather than have abortions, with a focus on women facing unplanned or "crisis" pregnancies. CPCs may advise women regarding parenting and adoption. CPCs provide non-medical supportive services to pregnant and parenting women. About a quarter also provide some level of medical services.[3] CPCs are typically supported and staffed by pro-life Christians. Individual CPCs are usually affiliated with a larger pro-life Christian CPC organization, or with a specific Christian church. Some CPCs operate as parachurch organizations. Most are in the United States. Crisis pregnancy centers have been criticized, especially by pro-choice supporters, for using allegedly deceptive tactics. Crisis pregnancy centers' methods can be contrasted with pregnancy options counseling, a non-directive form of counseling where abortion, parenting, and adoption are discussed as options. Additional recommended knowledge
PrevalenceAs of September, 2006, there were over 2,200 pro-life pregnancy centers in the United States.[3] While they are most prevalent in the United States, CPCs are also present internationally.[4] Most crisis pregnancy centers are affiliated with one of three major pro-life Christian organizations that fund CPCs; these are Care Net, Heartbeat International, and Birthright International. Care Net is the largest network of CPCs in North America, with 1,100 centers advising over 350,000 women annually.[5] Heartbeat International is associated with over 1,000 centers,[6] and Birthright International has over 400 affiliates.[7] The largest UK organisations are CareConfidential and LifeUK. ServicesNon-medical servicesThe majority of CPCs do not offer medical services; this is true of three-quarters of CPCs in the United States.[3] Depending on its size, resources, and affiliation, non-medical services offered may include:
CPCs may also provide the contact information of outside agencies that provide medical care, legal aid, or social services. A small number of CPCs are affiliated with maternity houses, or temporary homes for pregnant women and young mothers in crisis.[9] Medical servicesAs of September, 2006, Heartbeat International counted 561 CPCs that offer medical services, about a quarter of the United States' total.[3] These centers may be staffed with volunteer nurses, ultrasound technicians, and/or other medical personnel.[10] Medical services offered at CPCs are typically limited to pregnancy diagnosis and ultrasound examination to determine the viability of the pregnancy. CPC clinics that do not provide prenatal care will direct pregnant women to physicians in private practice who will provide obstetric care, but who do not provide abortion.[11] [12] Some clinics offer STD testing, but most cannot offer medical treatment for infections. CPCs that offer these basic services may operate under the license of a physician, who takes an administrative role.[13] In contrast to other reproductive health centers, such as those operated by Planned Parenthood, CPCs generally do not provide the contact information of abortion providers or emergency contraception. For this reason, phone books may list them in a section labeled "Abortion Alternatives" (as opposed to "Abortion Services")[14]. This policy reflects the pro-life mission of CPC operators. PoliciesThe parent organizations Birthright International[15] and Heartbeat International[16] have non-discrimination policies. Crisis pregnancy centers are obligated under applicable state law to notify local police of any suspected cases of sexual assault or statutory rape.[17] FundingCenters 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. State-regulated funding is available for many CPCs through the sale of "Choose Life" license plates. In the 17 U.S. 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.[18] Federally-funded CPCsAs of July, 2006, 50 CPCs had received federal funding.[1] Between 2001 and 2006, over $60 million of federal funds were given to crisis pregnancy centers.[19] CPCs that receive federal funding are required by law to refrain from discriminating "based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability."[20] On July 17, 2006, a Congressional investigative report was released by state representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee. During the investigation, investigators telephoned the 25 CPCs that have received grants from the Compassion Capital Fund, posing as pregnant 17-year-olds seeking advice about an unintended pregnancy.[1][21] Two centers could not be reached. 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 provided false or misleading information. The report states "three major areas of misinformation involved (1) the purported relationship between abortion and breast cancer; (2) the purported relationship between abortion and infertility; and (3) the purported relationship between abortion and mental illness",[22] each of which the report refutes as misleading or entirely false. The report concludes that federally funded pregnancy resource centers "frequently fail to provide medically accurate information." CriticismSome crisis pregnancy centers have been the subject of criticism, particularly from pro-choice advocates, but also from such entities as the Federal Centers for Disease Control, the Texas Attorney General, the North Dakota Supreme Court, the American Civil Liberties Union,[23] and some pro-life groups, such as Birthright, which operates similar centers.[24] All of these have described tactics of some CPCs as "deceptive". Critics charge that these 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.[25] 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. [23] Maloney said of CPCs, "When women are making a health decision, they should never be subject to deceit and trickery... Some of these Crisis Pregnancy Centers should be called ‘Counterfeit Pregnancy Centers.’ They have the right to exist, but they shouldn’t have the right to deceive in order to advance their particular beliefs." PraiseDespite the controversies, a 1999 national poll showed that crisis pregnancy centers are having large, positive impact across the United States. Of the 630 women randomly surveyed, 66% had heard of a CPC, and 49% knew whether or not one was located in their area. Of the total women surveyed, one in ten had used the services of a CPC themselves. Among pro-choice women, 13% had used the services of a crisis pregnancy center. When asked about their experience, 87% of the women believed that the centers have a positive impact. Of the women who had actually used a CPC, 98% said the center had been very helpful. [26] See also
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Crisis_pregnancy_center". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |
