Starting on September 1, approximately 180,000 women in Texas will be without access to contraception and preventive services as a result of the state Legislature’s cuts to family planning services by two-thirds. However, state lawmakers voted to increase funding by $300,000 for Alternatives to Abortion Services, a state program comprised of 26 crisis pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes. The 26 centers receiving money from Texas Pregnancy Care Network, a charity contracted with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The executive director of Austin LifeCare, Pam Cobern, stated that “the center’s policy is to refer women to community health clinics that are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers,” according to the New York Times.
Currently, there are an estimated 3,500 CPCs nationwide, most of which are affiliated with one or more national umbrella organizations. CPCs often pose as comprehensive health centers and offer “free” pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and do not offer women neutral or comprehensive medical advice. Often CPCs are run by anti-abortion zealots who are not licensed medical professionals.
