Even Under Threat, Pregnancy Resource Centers Are Thriving

Each year, pregnancy resource centers (also known as crisis pregnancy centers) open their doors daily to serve over one million pregnant women across all 50 states. These centers represent a robust grassroots network of organizations seeking to serve women who are pregnant and under-resourced in some way, whether being financially unstable, medically uninsured, or unsupported by a partner or family. 

As described formerly by Helen Alvaré for IFS, there has been a long history of attacks on pregnancy resource centers ranging from vandalism to lawsuits. In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down a California mandate on crisis pregnancy centers that required them to display information about free and low-cost abortions offered through the state. Recently, a pregnancy resource center was on the Supreme Court’s docket again.

First Choice v. Platkin, which was heard by the high court in early December, concerns pregnancy resource centers’ right to privacy in a case in New Jersey. What began with a series of subpoenas requesting donor information and internal records culminated in a full-fledged investigation of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers by New Jersey Attorney General, Matthew Platkin. The case represents an ongoing battle. In 2022, Platkin collaborated with Planned Parenthoodto issue a statewide consumer alert about pregnancy resource centers circulating “false or misleading information about the safety and legality of abortion care.” 

In their oral arguments, First Choice appealed to First Amendment rights to free speech and free association. They claimed that the subpoena was meant to intimidate crisis pregnancy centers and their supporters and effectively censor them. It was revealed in the hearing that the Attorney General’s office had not received specific complaints about any of First Choice’s five centers in New Jersey. 

The justices appeared to agree with First Choice’s legal representatives that the subpoena has a “chilling” effect on First Amendment freedoms by discouraging the work of pregnancy resource centers. Justices Kagan and Kavanaugh noted that the mere existence of state action against the centers, whether or not the court approves orders to collect confidential information, would present incentives against supporting or donating to such organizations. 

With their final ruling expected next spring or summer, the Supreme Court will decide whether nonprofits can challenge discriminatory state investigations that impact a wide array of faith-based charities. Pregnancy resource centers and other faith-based charities are overwhelmingly funded by private individuals, and they offer confidentiality to donors because of the hot-button nature of issues such as abortion.

The ideological attacks on pregnancy resource centers attempt to undermine a vital source of community support for families.

The ideological attacks on pregnancy resource centers attempt to undermine a vital source of community support for families. At a typical center, pregnancy tests, STD and STI tests, ultrasounds, counseling, and parenting classes, essential baby items, and more are offered at no cost to clients. According to a new report by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the value of the services and resources offered by the network of 2,775 centers in 2024 totaled over $452 million, and the self-reported client satisfaction rate was 98 percent. 

During eight years of data collection, total ultrasounds have increased by 59%, clients attending parenting classes have increased by 34%, and the total number of new clients served has increased by 15 percent. Center locations are gradually expanding their range of services to better meet the needs of clients: 13% offer professional counseling, 75% facilitate housing referrals, and 61% complement their pregnancy-oriented services with programs for fathers. 

The Platkin case represents ongoing efforts by abortion activists to discourage the work of pregnancy centers, including accusing them of dishonesty and fraud. In contrast, the data on pregnancy resource centers’ impact reveals a robust movement that is meeting widespread demand for alternatives to abortion, even when circumstances are not ideal. The medical and personal support offered by the vast network of pregnancy resource centers continue to help at-risk families establish stability for raising the next generation. 

Anna Claire Flowers is an affiliate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute and a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at George Mason University.