Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Launches a Report on Anti-Abortion Centers

TRENTON, NJ – On December 7th, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey released a new report: “Understanding Anti-Abortion Centers: Their Purpose, Activities, and Implications.” The report identifies 59 anti-abortion centers (also known as “crisis pregnancy centers”) operating across the state of New Jersey. This report aims to raise awareness about how anti-abortion centers mislead and misinform individuals seeking reproductive health care services, and purport to provide health care services despite not being regulated and/or licensed medical facilities.

“Anti-abortion centers stand in the way of New Jerseyans’ ability to receive the reproductive health care they deserve,” said Jackie Cornell, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “These organizations are unethical, coercive, and are pushing dubious medical claims shrouded in ideology – not medicine. We look forward to working with government and community partners to raise awareness and better understand these dubious actors.”

“When someone is looking for sexual and reproductive health care, they should not have to worry about accidentally walking into an unregulated center that does not actually provide medical services,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson of the 15th Legislative District. “Everyone deserves access to high-quality, medically-accurate health care, not to be deceived or have their care delayed by anti-abortion centers.”

Anti-abortion centers have been criticized for using misleading or medically inaccurate information, employing emotionally manipulative tactics, and failing to disclose their ideological stance to people seeking assistance. To an average consumer, an anti-abortion center may be at first glance indistinguishable from a legitimate, licensed and regulated reproductive health care provider, like a Planned Parenthood health center. In fact, two-thirds of New Jersey’s 21 Planned Parenthood health centers have an anti-abortion center operating within three miles of their location; half have an AAC within one mile. In addition to these permanent locations, AACs often park mobile units across the street from Planned Parenthood health centers.

In New Jersey, anti-abortion centers are not regulated health care facilities, nor are they required to be staffed by licensed health care providers. Despite this, many AACs offer medical services such as ultrasounds and STI testing. Questions remain regarding the accuracy of these organizations’ testing methods, their result reporting structures, treatment options and the potential implications for public health.

“This research has shone a light on how little information, transparency, and regulation there is on anti-abortion centers,” said Jaanhavi Ganesh, Policy Research Intern with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “I hope through this report, we are able to bring awareness about anti-abortion centers and advocate for access to safe and accurate health care, without judgment, coercion, or shame.”

The full report is available at www.ppactionnj.org.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization, and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates in New Jersey. We advocate for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit www.ppactionnj.org.