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Commentary

Undervalued Resources that Pregnancy Resource Centers Offer

July 6, 2022

This is part two of a three-part series on pregnancy resource centers and the services they provide. Read part one.

A major way the pro-life movement can cultivate a culture of life following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is by supporting pregnancy resource centers (PRCs).

One of the major strengths of PRCs is their ability to provide tailored services that respond to their local community’s needs. Most people know that PRCs offer pregnancy tests and supportive counseling; however, many people are unaware that some PRCs offer additional services to further serve those in need.

Highlighted below are some examples of the good work PRCs do to meet the unique needs of their local communities. With over 2,700 centers nationwide, this is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it does demonstrate why PRCs are so beneficial and how they stand in stark contrast with abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.

Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking

One of the many ways PRCs differ from abortion businesses is how they respond to human trafficking. Reports show that about 88 percent of sex-trafficking victims interacted with a health care professional while being trafficked. This could be anyone from a nurse at an urgent care clinic to a specialized OB/GYN doctor. While Planned Parenthood has a documented history of covering up human trafficking, PRCs are working to address this issue in their surrounding communities.

Wayne Pregnancy Center in North Carolina is one such center. In an effort to help victims of sex trafficking, they train their staff to identify signs and screen clients. They also partnered with the State Bureau of Investigation to find ways to help victims. For those rescued and in need of immediate support, Wayne Pregnancy Center offers emergency housing, client advocacy, and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), in addition to their general services.

Although not every PRC has the capacity to support victims of human trafficking, every PRC will offer moms in need the resources necessary to get the help they need.

Medical Care

Expectant moms need all kinds of support during pregnancy, including medical care. Although not every PRC has the capacity to offer medical care, some do. The Charlotte Lozier Institute’s 2019 report found that 79 percent of PRCs offered ultrasounds, 30 percent offered in-house STI/STD testing (with 21 percent also included the necessary treatment), and 19 percent offered lactation/breastfeeding consultation.

One organization that goes to great lengths to help moms in need is Divine Mercy Care. Divine Mercy supports the work of PRCs by providing educational material and training services. Tepeyac OB/GYN, the major medical organization that Divine Mercy funds, is a pro-life medical practice founded by Dr. John Bruchalski. Dr. Bruchalski started his practice carrying out abortions at a Virginia clinic but came to realize the harm it caused women and children. In 1994, he founded Tepeyac with the vision of providing comprehensive medical services, including screening, tests, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. In collaboration with Divine Mercy Care, Tepeyac has covered the financial costs for about 30 percent of the women they serve.

Although not every PRC has the capacity to operate as Divine Mercy Care does, at every PRC, pregnant moms will find people ready and willing to help them find the medical care they need.

Sexual Risk Avoidance Education

While many PRCs’ budgets and volunteer times are limited, some have devoted resources to Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) programs. As of 2019, 36 percent of PRCs provided SRA presentations.

Modesto Pregnancy Center in California is one such center that saw the need for abstinence education and responded accordingly. For over 20 years, Modesto Pregnancy Center’s Community Education Program has cooperated with local public schools to provide an age-appropriate, positive perspective about life, fetal development, and sexuality. They also serve local youth groups to build stronger, healthier community conversations about these issues. Abortion is in part a knowledge problem, and the Community Education Program of Modesto Pregnancy Center seeks to fill this gap via caring and trustworthy conversations.

Join the Movement

Although the abortion industry argues that women need abortion to overcome challenging circumstances, the pro-life movement is working to tackle the challenges women face while supporting them as mothers. Join the effort by finding and supporting your local pregnancy resource center today.

To find a pregnancy resource center near you, visit Pregnancy Decision Line at pregnancydecisionline.org or call 866-798-9541. Pregnancy Decision Line provides confidential, free support to anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy. You can also visit Option Line at optionline.org or call or text 800-712-4357. In addition to offering emergency hotline support and information about pregnancy and abortion recovery, Option Line connects you with a PRC near you for local support.

Mary Szoch would like to thank Savannah Anne Carman for her extensive research and work on this series.

Mary Szoch is the Director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council.