Expanding Role of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Rural Communities

Sandpoint, Idaho — An anti-abortion pregnancy center located on the edge of this Idaho Panhandle town displays a Bible verse: “Come to me & I will give you rest.” Established in 2001, the 7B Care Clinic provides pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, parenting and life skills classes, and community support groups. The clinic, previously known as Life Choices Pregnancy Center and Sandpoint Crisis Pregnancy Center, is part of Care Net, a national network of Christian evangelical centers. Funding from local donations and more than 40 churches keeps the clinic operational.

Crisis pregnancy centers are designed to dissuade women from seeking abortions by offering limited medical services. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, many centers use unethical methods to attract women.

After the closure of a local hospital’s labor and delivery unit, 7B experienced a surge in visitors. Sandpoint, with a population exceeding 10,000, faces a shortage in reproductive health services.

Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, Idaho lost a third of its OB-GYNs. 7B aims to restore obstetric care in Sandpoint by expanding its facilities and collaborating with a Washington state hospital to bring an OB-GYN weekly.

As rural areas lose maternal care resources, crisis pregnancy centers grow influential. In recent years, they have received increased state and federal funding, with some states passing legislation granting them greater protection.

Despite providing free services to low-income women in need, critics argue that religious nonprofits like 7B are unsuitable for offering medical care due to their lack of licensing and oversight. Jen Jackson Quintano of the Pro-Voice Project accuses centers of misleading patients with free services while promoting an anti-abortion agenda.

Janine Shepard, Executive Director of 7B, invites public visits to learn about the center. She claims the staff inform women about abortion, adoption, and parenting options and aim for “life-affirming” decisions.

Andrea Swartzendruber of the University of Georgia College of Public Health discusses the trend of crisis pregnancy centers stepping into areas with healthcare access shortages. Her research found over 2,600 crisis pregnancy centers operating in the U.S., far outnumbering brick-and-mortar abortion clinics.

The Trump administration has shown support by launching a website for pregnancy resources, including a map directing to crisis pregnancy centers.

Sandpoint, in a conservative region with strict abortion laws, presents a prime location for 7B’s expansion. Some locals appreciate the free resources, but others remain cautious about the center’s religious agenda. Licensed midwife Lori Sabin and former Sandpoint OB-GYN Amelia Huntsberger acknowledge benefits like free classes and baby items but express concerns about its resemblance to a medical provider.

Lisa Battisfore of Reproductive Transparency Now highlights that while some services are helpful, the overall lack of regulation and potential for misinformation is problematic.

A Texas case involving a misdiagnosis at a crisis pregnancy center underscores medical concerns.

Following the discontinuation of labor and delivery services, Bonner General Health attempts to rebuild trust by establishing a women’s health committee and prioritizing hiring a gynecologist.

Local resident Makayla Sundquist expresses doubt over relying on 7B for accurate medical information due to its faith-based nature but acknowledges concerns about traveling for maternity care.

KFF Health News, a national newsroom focusing on health issues, reports comprehensively on the evolving landscape of crisis pregnancy centers.