Should Crisis Pregnancy Centers be allowed to broker adoptions?

Question

Aren't crisis pregnancy centers supposed to be unbiased places for women in crisis pregnancies to come for help and advice?

Do you see a conflict of interest in crisis pregnancy centers that also actually handle adoptions?

Can a woman in a crisis pregnancy get fair and unbiased counseling if she goes to a center that actually handles adoptions?

Answer 1

According to most of the answers already, I can tell I am not going to be popular here- however here it goes- I counseled in a Crisis Pregnancy Center for over 10 years- and referred for adoptions , but never handle them ourselves- we never referred for abortions either- however the woman left making up their mind, some chose to keep their babies, some abortion and some adoption- and for those who think abortion is the easy way out- ask some of those women who came crying to us, after they chose that route- and needed counseling because of how they felt after aborting. I am not saying that everything about these centers are wonderful, I had to resign when I felt that they were beginning to do some things that I did not approve of- but for the first years that I was there- we offered help to the women , and support for her.

Answer 2

OMG!  these places irritate me!  first, most are misleading. they don't offer help for a "crisis pregnancy"; they offer adoption as the solution to a "crisis pregnancy."  

and the fact that they are religious-based means nothing to me.  as if some people of faith don't engage in unethical practices.

honestly, i have only known of ONE CPC that actually offered information on ALL choices; including abortion.  now, do i think abortion should be a choice for all, no... but i d**n sure think it's a bit slimy to just offer adoption...

sounds like brokering to me.

great questions.  here's a star from me.

Answer 3

This is what I've heard from people who have dealt with these centers personally. Many of them are religion-based and make the women watch graphic anti-abortion videos. Then they start extolling all the virtues of adoption without mentioning the guilt and the sense of loss the woman will likely feel when she does put the baby up for adoption. I've also been told that they especially put the pressure on white women to put their babies up for adoption but don't do the same thing for minority women.

Answer 4

I think its a conflict of interest if a pregnancy center is also in charge of and handling the adoptions.

Answer 5

First of all, not all Crisis Pregnancy centers are unbiased.  I made the mistake of going to a place called "Crisis Pregnancy Center" for a free pregnancy test when I was 18.  Luckily, I was not pregnant.  But while I waited for my test results, I was forced to watch a horrible video that was anti-abortion .  I didn't know it until then, but this was a pro-life establishment.  They were not interested in talking about my choices....they wanted to enforce their way of thinking.

Answer 6

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Pregnant women who are scared and nervous anyway could get help and support and learn what options and such are available if it's chosen they cannot keep their unborn child. :)

Answer 7

I don't know that a woman in a crisis pregnancy can get fair and unbiased counseling ANYWHERE.  Her mom has her own agenda.  Her grandma has her own agenda.  BF has his own agenda.  People at the crisis pregnancy center have their own views and/or agenda.  People at adoption agencies have thier own agenda.  People on the hotline...people she sees on the street...her co-workers (I worked with two different pregnant women who chose to relinquish their children, and you wouldn't believe the flack people gave them!!!  And it was NONE of our business!!!).  If you can think of a single place where anyone can talk to a person who doesn't have their own personal beliefs on this issue, that's awesome.  I can't think of one.  (I think there SHOULD be places like this...I just don't think they exist.)

Answer 8

yes, there is a local place in my town that is christian based and for adoption over abortion but they do not give out their opinions negatively.  All legal options are explained

Answer 9

It is most certainly a conflict of interest if a CPC were to also act an an adoption broker.  I mean, if Joe makes green widgets and John makes blue widgets, what kind of widgets do you think people would buy if they went to a class on widgets taught by John's company, particularly if the blue widgets were conveniently placed in the same room as the training session?

Answer 10

No.  I had a friend.  A MARRIED friend who went into the local crisis pregnancy center to get a preg test for medicaid verification.  Guess what she was asked three times in front of her husband and two year old son to give her child up for adoption.  Not once was there any information offered for parenting your own child.

Answer 11

I know it has been said... Crisis pregnancy centers are biased. Most religiously controlled centers lean heavily towards adoption while Planned Parenthood leans heavily towards abortion. In this particular situation, it is difficult for people to be unbiased.

Is anything truly unbiased these days? Even newspapers and news shows have an obvious bias (why else would one paper support a candidate?)

Answer 12

Would it be more fair if they offered abortions?  They're just making the option available, it's always up to the woman to decide what to do.  It's not like they're forcing her to put the kid up for adoption.

Answer 13

I wish so called crisis pregnancy centers did not exist.  They just scare woman and girls who may be considering abortion into thinking that if they have an abortion they will A: Be barren for the rest of their lives.  B: Die on the operating room table C: Get breast cancer from having an abortion or D: All of the above, or a combination of the above.

I do not think crisis pregnancy centers offer fair and unbiased counseling whether or not they broker adoptions.

Answer 14

I believe a crisis pregnancy center should deliver ALL the options to a pregnant woman, in no way influence her decision, but rather be a listening ear thats completly unjudgemental.

I personally don't think they should in ANY way have anything to do with adoptions other than to give options & referrals (point the mom in the direction to go) and no I don't think a woman then went to a crisis pregnancy center that handles adoptions would receive that fair unbiased, non judgemental information, the center would be looking after their pocket strings... placing the baby for adoption.

Answer 15

No.  If they did, I don't think they'd offer fair unbiased opinions to mothers.

Answer 16

I think Crisis Pregnancy centres should always provide information on all three options; however, some are church ran and will only push adoption first and keeping your child second.  These are not who need need counselling, we need all options on the table with realistic information!

Answer 17

No way should they be able to actually handle adoptions through the centers.

If they want to hand her INFORMATION on adoption agencies, that's one thing; but to actually BE an adoption agency, that's completely different.

Their only focus should be the dissemination of information...options on parenting, adoption, or termination of the pregnancy.