Texas Lawmakers Give Extra Support to Anti-Abortion Clinics

Day 14: Texas Lawmakers Give Extra Support to Anti-Abortion Clinics — 82nd Legislative Session | The Texas Tribune: The vast majority of faith-based crisis pregnancy resource centers in Texas go unregulated, but an estimated 26 are affiliated with the state, meaning they receive financial support and oversight from the Texas Pregnancy Care Network, a nonprofit charity organization that contracted with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission during the last biennium to distribute $4 million a year in state support to 47 crisis pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, social service agencies and maternity homes.

According to TPCN's website, an estimated 1,500 women seek their services each month and more than 40,000 clients have been served since the network was formed in 2006. For the next two years, lawmakers opted to add an additional $300,000 for a total budget of $8.3 million for its Alternatives to Abortion program.

On of the member centers is Austin LifeCare. ALC is supported by more than 40 different churches and receives 3 percent (around $45,000) of its annual funding from the state. Executive Director Pam Cobern said the money comes in the form of reimbursements for counseling time, some curriculum materials, and the students who attend classes. "It really doesn't have that much of an impact on us," she said, although aligning with TPCN has made theirs “a better, more professional center.”

As a condition, Austin LifeCare must divide their curriculum into spiritual and nonspiritual tracks. Under TPCN guidelines, “misleading a woman in crisis pregnancy about the scope of available services is neither compassionate or caring.” The state reviews phone protocols and advertisements. Graphic images are prohibited from being shown. Cobern said women who come to ALC are told they have three options. They can go through with their pregnancy, pursue adoption, or abort. ALC’s counselors do not coerce or lead the women. However, it is their standard policy to refer women to anti-abortion community health clinics that are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood.