Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, have grown both in number and clout over the last decade, as national organizations continue to invest in them as an alleged means of reducing abortions.
While some are still volunteer-run locations that offer pregnancy test and baby supplies, more often these centers are emerging as sophisticated partial medical centers. In fact, many provide ultrasounds and prenatal care, targeted online advertising and educational, medical and service referrals.
As these entities take on more roles, many CPCs are also reaping public funding from local and federal taxpayers. And frequently, those funds come with little oversight.
Unsurprisingly, this money may support the anti-abortion movement far more than any of the clients that CPCs claim to be helping.
Recent investigations in both Texas and Pennsylvania highlight anti-abortion groups that said they would accept funds to help lower income clients — including those facing unplanned pregnancies — access healthcare and other practical support.
In Texas, where family planning funds had been stripped from Planned Parenthood years earlier, Heidi Group received a $1.6 million contract from the state. The intent was to connect those without insurance coverage to providers who could give them access to birth control and other reproductive health services.
Now, a year later, there is little idea where that money has gone. The AP reported:
An Associated Press review found the nonprofit has done little of the outreach it promised, such as helping clinics promote their services on Facebook, or airing public service announcements. It hasn’t made good on plans to establish a 1-800 number to help women find providers or ensure that all clinics have updated websites. Neither the group nor state officials would say how many patients have been served so far by the private clinics.
Heidi Group executive Carol Everett, a former abortion provider turned anti-abortion activist, stated that the funding was…