In California, Anti-Abortion Centers Outnumber Abortion Clinics

Despite California’s reputation as a sanctuary state for abortion rights, it is also home to hundreds of “crisis pregnancy centers” located directly next to abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood. California has more so-called crisis pregnancy centers than abortion clinics, many of them front as community health centers. These centers are designed to look like community health clinics, but most of them don’t have a medical license. And they have an explicit goal: to persuade people not to have an abortion.

The Role of Crisis Pregnancy Centers

For a procedure where time is everything, these centers can be a huge barrier. Many of these facilities, such as the Napa Women's Center, are opened by faith-based nonprofits like the Napa Valley Culture of Life. They often advertise free pregnancy tests and are designed to look like a health center. However, as leadership within these organizations admits, many are not medical clinics yet. Because they are not medical professionals, the pregnancy tests provided are often self-tests that clients read themselves.

Tactics and Misinformation on the Sidewalk

In locations like Jefferson Street in Napa, a Planned Parenthood center and a crisis pregnancy center are right next door to each other, connected by a fence. Volunteers for anti-abortion organizations often engage in what they call sidewalk counseling. These individuals may sit outside abortion clinics on folding chairs, intentionally dressed in scrubs to look like nurses. They approach people as they enter or leave the clinic, asking to talk about free resources and handing out pamphlets. Some of these pamphlets are full of misinformation about abortion.

This organization is an anti-abortion organization that often has intensive periods where protesters are present nearly around the clock in front of abortion clinics, praying and handing out literature. There is supposed to be a buffer zone around abortion clinics, but some advocates have noted that law enforcement seem hesitant to enforce the rule that protesters are not supposed to be that close to the entrance.

Services and Resources Offered

Facilities like FYNDout Free serve women’s needs throughout their entire reproductive journey. They offer various services to empower decisions and support the whole journey. All of these services are 100% FREE. Their offerings include:

• Sexual education and pregnancy confirmation.
• Free limited OB ultrasounds.
• Pregnancy empowerment and parenting support.
• Adoption information and prayer requests.
• Family resources including diapers, wipes, and formula.

To provide a clearer view of the resources available at such centers, the following table summarizes the key programs and services mentioned in their materials:

Many people wind up at these centers mistakenly all the time. While they offer a variety of special events and services, their main goal remains to persuade people not to have an abortion in a state where abortions are protected.