WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), the research arm of Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), released the findings of a robust study of approximately 2,700 U.S. pregnancy centers (affiliated with national networks and/or smaller parent organizations) to calculate their extraordinary medical, education, support, and material service contributions in 2019.
The new report, “Pregnancy Centers Stand the Test of Time,” the second in “A Legacy of Life and Love” report series, is based on national survey data provided by major pregnancy center networks (Care Net, Heartbeat International, and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates) and a host of smaller networks. Prepared by CLI Associate Scholars Moira Gaul, Mai Bean, and Jeanneane Maxon, the report features a historical overview of early medical care established in pregnancy centers 35 years ago, emerging areas including outreach to victims of human trafficking and abortion pill reversal, high standards of care as a centerpiece of services, continued care at maternity homes, estimated total value of services, physician spotlights, and powerful stories of individuals and families the centers have helped.
Key findings in the new report include:
- 2,700 pro-life pregnancy centers nationwide served almost two million people in 2019, at an estimated value of nearly $270 million.
- These are some of the vital services typically provided at virtually no charge:
- Almost 732,000 pregnancy tests
- More than 486,000 free ultrasounds
- 160,200 STI/STD tests
- More than 291,000 clients attended parenting and prenatal education programs
- More than 21,000 clients received after-abortion support
- More than 881,000 students attended sexual risk avoidance education presentations
- Nearly 1.3 million packs of diapers
- More than two million baby outfits
- Personnel facts:
- 68,832 workers serve pregnancy centers, including nearly 3,800 licensed medical staff (25 percent of paid staff)
- Eight in 10 (53,855) of these workers are volunteers, including more than 6,400 licensed medical volunteers (12 percent of total volunteers)
- Over 10,000 licensed medical workers provide care, as staff and volunteers
- Percentage of centers offering the following services:
- Material items – 94 percent
- Parenting/prenatal education – 86 percent
- Ultrasound – 79 percent
- After-abortion recovery – 72 percent
In addition, a growing percentage of centers offer sexual risk avoidance presentations to youth (36 percent), STI/STD testing (30 percent), STI/STD treatment (21 percent), childbirth classes (27 percent), and breastfeeding consultations (19 percent).
CLI’s prior research reveals that an overwhelming majority of Americans, regardless of whether they self-identify as “pro-life” or “pro-choice,” consider pregnancy centers a valuable community resource. Post-visit surveys indicate centers have extraordinarily high rates of client satisfaction.
“Pregnancy centers exist to serve and support mothers in the courageous decision to give their children life, even under the most difficult circumstances,” said Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B. Anthony List. “This report calculates the impact of their mission of love in concrete terms. Thousands of centers around the country provide a multitude of free services for millions of women, as well as tens of thousands of men, saving communities millions in tax dollars annually. Eight in 10 people involved at pregnancy centers are volunteers, an extraordinary example of igniting points of light in the darkness. Thirty-five years have now passed since the introduction of life-revealing and life-changing ultrasounds into pregnancy centers, and their medicalization continues to grow and thrive. All Americans benefit from these resources in communities everywhere across our national landscape.”
The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), an organization that provides legal counsel to pregnancy centers, commented on the report.
“Pregnancy centers and medical clinics exist to empower mothers to choose life. They provide invaluable education as well as physical, medical, emotional and financial support,” said Anne O’Connor, NIFLA Vice President of Legal Affairs. “This report quantifies the impact of their work on a national scale. Pregnancy centers provide these services at no cost, saving communities across the nation millions in tax dollars annually. All Americans, regardless of political orientation, can agree that pregnancy centers provide welcome essential resources during times of uncertainty.”