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The Truth About Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs)

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by Andrea Trudden, January 14th, 2025

(Pregnancy Help News) Recent news articles have painted an incomplete and often misleading picture of pregnancy help organizations (PHOs), casting doubt on their mission and operations. These stories fail to acknowledge the compassionate care, practical support, and vital services these organizations provide to women facing unexpected pregnancies—all at no charge.

Setting the record straight

Pregnancy help organizations exist to ensure every woman has access to accurate information and life-affirming alternatives to abortion in a safe and judgment-free environment. The broader reality is that PHOs offer a lifeline of hope and support to women during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

In contrast, federally subsidized organizations like Planned Parenthood receive significant taxpayer dollars while focusing heavily on abortion services. In 2023 alone, Planned Parenthood netted nearly $700 million in government funding through Medicaid reimbursements and Title X grants. Despite being a not-for-profit organization generating $1.7 billion in revenue, its focus remains on abortion services, which constitute a significant portion of its clinic revenue.

PHOs are driven by a mission to empower women, offering tangible support, accurate information, and life-affirming options. Their work is funded primarily through donations, state grants, and community support, operating on a fraction of Planned Parenthood’s budget while providing:

  • Free ultrasounds: Nearly 500,000 provided annually.
  • Material assistance: Millions of diapers, clothing items, and baby supplies distributed.
  • Parenting education: Equipping families with skills for success.
  • Emotional support: Counseling and mentorship to create a safe space for women to talk through all their options.

Many women visit PHOs very often feeling pressured or coerced into choosing abortion. PHOs provide a compassionate alternative, where women can explore all their choices without fear, judgment, or pressure.

Real stories of hope and empowerment

Cassidy, a young woman who felt ashamed and broken after discovering her pregnancy, initially decided to have an abortion at seven weeks. Overcome with regret over starting the chemical abortion, she searched online and found the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN). Connected quickly to a nurse who guided her through the next steps, Cassidy was referred to Heartbeat International affiliate Coastline Women’s Center.

“I remember walking into that ultrasound room with no hope and thinking [the baby] was already gone,” Cassidy shared. “I heard the nurse say, ‘There it is.’ I said, ‘It’s alive!!!’”

“The entire room filled with joy, and it was such a magical moment that changed everything for me,” Cassidy said. “The Abortion Pill Reversal not only saved my child’s life but saved [my life] as well.”

Cassidy was overwhelmed by the compassion and care she received from the pharmacist who personally paid for her prescription to the team at Coastline.

“I was overwhelmed by the compassion and care people were giving me that didn’t even know me,” she said.

Today, Cassidy is the proud mother of Dexter, born in May 2023.

“I never have to look back and think about what Dexter would have been,” she said, “but I get to watch his beautiful life grow inside me.”

Similarly, Kendra, a college freshman and cheerleader from Kansas, discovered she was pregnant following an assault. Overwhelmed and determined to keep her pregnancy a secret, Kendra initially felt abortion was her only option. She confided in her best friend, who connected her with Open Door Health Services.

At eight weeks, Kendra saw her daughter, Ella Jean, for the first time during an ultrasound.

“I saw that and after that day, it kind of just started getting a little better,” Kendra shared. “I thought, well, maybe I could do this.”

Initially considering adoption, Kendra ultimately decided to parent.

Open Door provided her with housing, enabling her to continue her education. Although she faced challenges, including a lack of support from her cheer coach, Kendra transitioned into her school’s music program and later returned to cheering at another college.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Kendra shared, “I don’t know what I would have done if I had gone through with what I was going to do. I’m so grateful to Open Door and everything they did for me.”

These stories are not unique—they are replicate thousands of times across the U.S., and beyond, as women find safe spaces at PHOs in which to share their fears, hopes, and dreams.

Every woman deserves compassionate care and support when facing an unexpected pregnancy. PHOs present an alternative to environments where abortion may seem like the only option. For women who feel coerced into abortion, these organizations provide them the freedom to explore life-affirming paths that reflect their values and empower their futures.

The work of PHOs is about more than saving lives—it’s about affirming the dignity and worth of every woman and child. By fostering an environment of care and equipping women with the tools they need to succeed, pregnancy help organizations ensure that no woman feels alone or unsupported.

Instead of focusing on divisive rhetoric, we should celebrate the work of organizations that meet women where they are, offering hope, practical support, and life-affirming options in moments of uncertainty.

Editor’s note: Heartbeat International manages the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN) and Pregnancy Help News. Heartbeat is currently the subject of two lawsuits brought by state attorneys general concerning sharing information about Abortion Pill Reversal.

This article is reprinted with permission by Pregnancy Help News.

If you are considering abortion and need support, look no further than Options for Women. Contact us today.