States Bolster Funding for Pro-Life Pregnancy Resource Centers

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Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have bolstered state funding for pregnancy help organizations that provide women with alternatives to abortion.

For years, pro-life states have provided publicly funded grants and subsidies for pregnancy resource centers that help women with unplanned pregnancies. Those efforts have accelerated in recent months.

In Ohio, lawmakers raised the state’s biannual budget for pregnancy resource centers this year from $6 million to $14 million.

In Tennessee this year, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

Texas offers $100 million per biennium for its abortion alternatives program.

Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million in funding for pregnancy centers during the coming budget cycle.

This year the Arkansas Legislature voted to provide $1 million in grant funding for pregnancy help organizations that offer women and families alternatives to abortion.

Many of these organizations provide everything from ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to maternity clothes and adoption referrals — typically free of charge. They often operate on very tight budgets and rely heavily on volunteers and donations.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been reversed and Arkansas has prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother, we need to step up and help women with unplanned pregnancies.

Providing grant funding for pregnancy help organizations is part of our long term strategy to reduce the demand for abortion in Arkansas.

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Pregnancy-Help Organizations Have Received $994K in State Grants This Budget Cycle

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The State of Arkansas is nearly finished awarding $1 million in grants to pregnancy-help organizations for the 2022-2023 budget cycle, according to figures posted on the state’s official transparency website.

The state government’s annual budget cycle runs from July 1 through June 30 — meaning Arkansas’ 2023 fiscal year will end next month.

Last year the Arkansas Legislature passed an appropriation measure budgeting $1 million for publicly-funded grants to pro-life pregnancy-help organizations — such as crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies — that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

All told, nearly two dozen pro-life charities have received funding under this grant program. That’s something to celebrate!

Pregnancy resource centers and similar organizations give women real options besides abortion. That’s why a growing number of states provide these organizations with public funding.

This year the Arkansas Legislature voted to renew the $1 million grant program for the 2023-2024 budget cycle. That new program begins July 1.

Below is a breakdown of pro-life organizations and the amount of grant funding each has received as of this spring.

VendorVendor DBAExpenditure
INFORMED CHOICES WOMENS CENTER OF THE OZ  $ 79,737.51
PLUM FOUNDATIONPEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING MERCY     65,011.46
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST      60,143.68
SOUTH ARKANSAS CARING PREGNANCY CENTERHANNAH PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER     59,698.97
OPEN ARMS PREGNANCY CENTER INC      59,134.74
HOPEPLACE NEWPORT      51,936.00
ST JOSEPHS HELPERS OF PULASKI COUNTYARKANSAS PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER     51,718.00
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL ARKANCARING HEARTS PREGNANCY CENTER     51,708.12
HEART TO HEART PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER      51,480.56
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONNEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY CENTER     46,812.36
COMPASSION MINISTRIES LTD      46,221.47
HOPEPLACE MONTICELLO      45,445.97
HOPE OF THE DELTA CENTER      44,161.00
HOPEPLACE – FORDYCE      43,936.00
ARKANSAS BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOME & FAMILYCONNECTED FOSTER CARE & ADOPTIONS     39,962.50
PATHWAY RESOURCE CENTER      37,962.08
PREGNANCY HELP CENTERPREGNANCY HELP CLINIC     36,093.47
ALPHA PREGNANCY PROBLEM CENTER OF BATESVTHE ALPHA CENTER INC     32,768.00
CHANGEPOINT PREGNANCY CARE AND PARENTING      31,789.47
ACTS OF HOPE INC      26,230.96
CRADLE THE MATERNITY SUPPORT CENTER OF CKATHLEEN BLOSSOM     25,613.97
RIGHT TO LIFE OF TEXARKANA INCFIRST CHOICE PREGNANCY RESOURCE       7,000.66
Total$ 994,566.95

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State of Arkansas Launches Grant Program for Pro-Life Pregnancy Resource Centers

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The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration is accepting grant applications from pregnancy help organizations across the state.

Act 187 of 2022 budgets up to $1 million in state funds to provide grants for organizations that assist women with unplanned pregnancies — including pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies.

These organizations provide women with real options besides abortion, and they help women and families as they navigate unplanned pregnancies.

According to the Department of Finance and Administration, pregnancy help organizations can use the funds for projects and expenses such as:

  • Activities in direct support of pregnant women
  • Project material and supplies
  • Advertising of available services
  • Brochures and publications explaining services and available resources
  • Rent of facilities where services are provided
  • Utilities of facilities where services are provided
  • Contracts for client-focused professional services (mental health counseling, etc.)
  • Staffing for the duration of the project

Now that Roe v. Wade has been reversed and Arkansas has prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother, we need to step up and help women with unplanned pregnancies.

Providing grant funding for pregnancy help organizations is part of our long term strategy to reduce the demand for abortion in Arkansas. This grant money could be a game-changer for many pro-life charities.

Pregnancy help organizations can apply for grant funding through the Department of Finance and Administration.

Pregnancy resource centers can contact the ARFuture Foundation in Little Rock for additional information about applying for this grant and others in Arkansas.

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