{"id":294699,"date":"2023-07-15T09:39:34","date_gmt":"2023-07-15T14:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=294699"},"modified":"2023-07-14T00:55:22","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T05:55:22","slug":"ohio-funding-pregnancy-resource-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/ohio-funding-pregnancy-resource-centers\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio doubles its funding for pro-life pregnancy resource centers"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a two-year budget in late June that more than doubles the state’s funding for pregnancy resource centers (PRCs).<\/p>\n

According to NBC 4<\/a>, the new budget will allocate $14 million in state funding for the centers, up from $6 million in last year’s budget. Ohio Senate Majority Caucus spokesperson John Fortney said the money will be used as part of the Parenting and Pregnancy Program within the Department of Job and Family Services. This program, established in 2013, allocates grants to nonprofits, including PRCs.<\/p>\n

Pregnancy resource centers<\/a> offer help to women and families in need so that they feel more empowered to choose life for their children. The centers offer a variety of services including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and maternity and baby items like clothing, food, and furniture. The centers also refer women for <\/span>medical support<\/span>, the state nutrition <\/span>program<\/span>, maternity <\/span>housing<\/span>, professional counseling, child care, and prenatal care.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe majority of women who have abortions report that they did it because they lacked resources and they lacked community,\u201d Beth Vanderkooi, executive director of the Greater Columbus Right to Life, told NBC 4<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019re alone \u2013 they don\u2019t have a partner; they don\u2019t have a family; they don\u2019t have that support. Pregnancy centers are there to walk with women.\u201d<\/p>\n