Inside the Anti-Abortion Movement’s Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Licensed Medical Clinics
The Napa Women’s Center is an anti-abortion center — sometimes known as a “crisis pregnancy center.” It’s one of approximately 3,000 such facilities across the country. Established by faith-based organizations, anti-abortion centers exist primarily to dissuade people from having abortions. In Napa, it is no accident that an anti-abortion center operates right next to the city’s lone Planned Parenthood, in a state of uneasy tension, on one small city block. Connected by a 6-foot wooden fence, their facades are plain, and notably similar to the casual observer. But behind those doors lie two vastly different worlds.
Operational Tactics of Anti-Abortion Centers
Teresa Conemac, a volunteer with the Christian anti-abortion organization 40 Days for Life, waits outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Napa. She talks to people approaching or exiting the clinic, and gives them pamphlets featuring widely debunked claims about the dangers of abortion and birth control. This practice is what she and her fellow volunteers call “sidewalk counseling.”
Conemac also tells them about resources at, and distributes cards for, the facility next door: the Napa Women’s Center, opened by the Christian nonprofit Napa Valley Culture of Life in 2020. No medical professionals work at this facility, but a visitor can take a free pregnancy test, learn about adoption agencies and pick up pamphlets that inaccurately link abortion to breast cancer, infertility, depression and death. They often attract clients by opening in close proximity to abortion care clinics and by advertising reproductive health services, despite the vast majority operating without medical licensing.
The Role of State-Licensed Abortion Clinics
In contrast to non-medical facilities, the American Women’s Medical Center (AWMC) is dedicated to providing a safe, accessible environment for women seeking to terminate a pregnancy and provide comprehensive reproductive health care access for all. Our centers are fully licensed by the state to provide abortion services. We proudly accept Medicaid and offer financial aid options for abortions, including free services for Illinois Medicaid recipients, in addition to various other essential health services.
At our clinics, we provide access to the FDA-approved Abortion Pill for pregnancies of up to 11 weeks, empowering individuals with safe and effective options for reproductive healthcare. Furthermore, AWMC offers compassionate and professional procedural abortion (D&C) services up to 20 weeks, prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of every individual seeking reproductive healthcare. We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment where you can feel comfortable discussing your concerns and receiving compassionate care.
Comparison of Facility Types
For a pregnant person seeking health care, the choice of which one to enter comes with potentially life-changing consequences. The following table highlights the differences between these two types of facilities based on the provided data:
| Feature | Anti-Abortion Centers (CPCs) | State-Licensed Clinics (AWMC) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Licensing | Vast majority operating without medical licensing | State-licensed ASC; Accredited by the Joint Commission |
| Staffing | No medical professionals work at these facilities | State-licensed, caring physicians and nurses |
| Primary Goal | Exist primarily to dissuade people from having abortions | Provide safe, accessible environment to terminate a pregnancy |
| Services Provided | Free urine pregnancy tests, adoption info, pamphlets | Medication Abortion, Procedural Abortion, Health Services |
| Information Accuracy | Pamphlets inaccurately link abortion to breast cancer and death | FDA-approved methods and professional medical guidance |
Patient Experiences and Professional Standards
Licensed clinics emphasize that with years of expertise in the field, they are dedicated to providing the highest quality care to every patient. Patients have shared that the staff was super friendly and supportive, and they made me feel really safe in what I thought was going to be a terrifying experience. We adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines to ensure that your personal information remains secure at all times. You can trust that your visits and test results will be handled with the utmost discretion.
None of the new state laws aimed at strengthening abortion rights can help a patient who’s standing on the sidewalk outside, deciding between the two, confused about what they’re seeing. As long as California fails to regulate anti-abortion centers, advocates say, calling itself a sanctuary state won’t change a thing about that.