CPCs 101: The Basics
Have you ever noticed one of those billboards that says:
"Pregnant and Scared? Know Your Options!"?
What you saw during your drive was an advertisement for an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center (CPC).
You may also hear CPCs referred to as anti-abortion centers (AACs), pregnancy resource centers (PRCs), pregnancy care centers, or even fake clinics.
Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are anti-abortion organizations that exist to dissuade pregnant people from seeking abortion care to terminate their pregnancy. Most are religiously-affiliated nonprofit organizations that do not have medical licenses. Yet, CPCs provide a host of pseudo-medical services to lure pregnant people who may be considering abortion and spread harmful medical misinformation about abortion, sexuality, contraception, and adoption. The articles linked below provide a comprehensive background on the history and current state of CPCs.
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Articles & Publications
NEW! "Going Undercover at a Crisis Pregnancy Center"
by Olivia Raisner
published in Ms. Magazine, 15 December 2022
NEW! "How Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers Can Claim to Be Medical Clinics and Get Away With It"
by Laura C. Morel
published in Reveal, 15 December 2022
"The Threat of Crisis Pregnancy Centers to the Future of Abortion Access"
part of Funding the Frontlines: A Roadmap to Supporting Health Equity Through Abortion Access
published by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), 2022
by Abigail Abrams and Vera Bergengruen
published in TIME, 22 June 2022
"People in abortion deserts will be at extra risk of anti-abortion center manipulation if Roe falls"
by Alexandra Martinez
published in Prism, 13 June 2022
"Pregnant? Need Help? They Have an Agenda."
by Carly Thomsen, Carrie N. Baker, and Zach Levitt
published in The New York Times (Opinion), 12 May 2022
“Millions in tax dollars flow to anti-abortion centers in US”
by Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press
published on ABC News Network, 05 February 2022
“Why Crisis Pregnancy Centers Are Legal but Unethical”
by Amy G. Bryant, MD, MSCR and Jonas J. Swartz, MD, MPH
published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, Policy Forum, March 2018
“The Public Health Risks of Crisis Pregnancy Centers”
by Joanne D. Rosen
published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, September 2012
“Designed to Deceive: A Study of the Crisis Pregnancy Center Industry in Nine States”
by The Alliance: State Advocates for Women's Rights and Gender Equality
published online, October 2021
“Crisis pregnancy centers' ultrasounds are free. But are they accurate?”
by Jennifer Gerson
published in The 19th, 29 October 2021
“Crisis Pregnancy Centers Seek To Increase Political Clout, Secure Government Subsidy”
by Vitoria Lin & Cynthia Dailard
published in The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, May 2002
Books
The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having--or Being Denied--an Abortion.
by Diana Greene Foster, PhD
published 2020. Available on Amazon.
Videos & Documentaries
Crisis pregnancy centers facing backlash over high taxpayer costs, medical misinformation
NBC Nightly News, 27 June 2022 (5 mins)
The Fake Abortion Clinics of America: Misconception
VICE News, 2014
Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
HBO, 9 April 2018
12th & Delaware (full-length documentary)
Available on HBO Max, 2010
Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
TBS, 10 May 2016