Dallas church Opens Pregnancy Center
The First Unitarian Church of Dallas unveiled a new pregnancy resource center on Friday, aimed at providing comprehensive reproductive health information and acting as a foil to crisis pregnancy centers in the state.
The Truth Pregnancy Resource Center was established in direct response to Texas’ strict abortion bans, which have significantly limited access to reproductive health care for women in the state. The new center is located just doors down from the now-closed Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, which previously offered abortions.
Rev. Daniel Kanter, CEO and senior minister at First Unitarian Church, emphasized that the center is a symbol of redemption for former staff of Southwestern Women who were impacted by the abortion bans. “None of this is really about me at all. It’s about the opportunity to do good in the world, to have a church say that this issue around reproductive dignity matters,” Kanter said.
The First Unitarian Church has a long history of involvement in abortion advocacy and has been pro-reproductive choice since before the 1973 Roe Vs. Wade decision. The Dallas church is part of the Unitarian-Universalist denomination, which also takes a pro-reproductive choice stance.
The center will offer counseling, sonograms, and information about all possible outcomes of pregnancy, including adoption, parenthood, and obtaining abortions in neighboring states. It aims to fill the resource gap left by the closure of abortion clinics and the limited ability of OB-GYN offices to provide accurate information due to state laws.
The availability of crisis pregnancy centers, which are often cheap and easily accessible despite not being medical clinics, has raised concerns. These centers are often affiliated with religious organizations that oppose abortion and have been found to provide medically inaccurate information, including falsely linking abortion to breast cancer and infertility.
According to the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map compiled by University of Georgia researchers, Texas currently has nearly 200 such centers. Journalists from NBC News who visited crisis pregnancy centers in the state reported being told that abortion causes mental illness.
In the 2022-2023 budget, the Texas Legislature allocated over $100 million to the Alternatives to Abortion program, a 25% increase from the previous budget. This program contracts with organizations, including crisis pregnancy centers, to provide education and care coordination with the aim of discouraging abortions.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that patients know how to recognize centers like crisis pregnancy centers, which may operate unethically and try to dissuade them from seeking certain reproductive health care options.
Rev. Deneen Robinson, executive director of Truth Pregnancy Resource Center, emphasized that the center’s goal is to offer support and options to all pregnant individuals, regardless of their plans for their pregnancy. “Reproductive health care is a continuum. It’s not just about abortion, adoption, or parenting. All these options are interconnected,” said Robinson.
The center has three full-time employees, including a licensed professional counselor and an administrator. Volunteers will also be utilized, although those who interact with patients must be licensed health professionals. Adryelle Collins, the center’s full-time counselor who previously worked at Southwestern Women’s Surgical Center, explained that patients will be able to receive counseling for up to 13 months.
The organization has already secured funding to operate for the first few years, according to Kanter. The center will initially be open for four days a week- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday as needed. It is expected to serve as a valuable resource for pregnant individuals seeking accurate information and support in their decision-making process.