Last month Nancy Dollard wrote an article in the Blade spreading lies about crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). She claims that CPCs do not employ licensed medical professionals. She also falsely asserts that CPCs tell women that "an abortion drug doesn't exist" and that during an ectopic pregnancy "you can safely deliver a healthy baby". You can read the full article here:
Savannah Marten, Executive Director of the Bella Vita Network and head of the Ohio Pregnancy Center Coalition submitted an article to the Blade addressing these points, but the newspaper refused to publish it. Unlike the Blade, we want people to hear the truth about the amazing resources and high-quality services that pregnancy centers provide for women. With Mrs. Marten’s permission, we now present you with her message. Please share this with anyone you know, especially those who are misinformed about pregnancy centers.
To the editor: in response to “Stop funding deception: Crisis pregnancy centers aren’t health care.”
When debates are heated around topics, clarity and facts are deserved. I want to start by acknowledging a few things to the readers, including the author of the letter to the editor I am writing in response to, Nancy.
In full transparency, I run a center that Nancy is writing about. Bella Vita Network has been in Toledo for 40 years and includes a pregnancy center (or crisis pregnancy center, the term she uses). I have worked at Bella Vita/Pregnancy Center for 11 years and have sat as the Executive
Director since 2016. I also have the privilege of leading the Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers, an informal coalition of the 155 pregnancy centers in Ohio. Because of my history and the amount of work I do with Pregnancy Centers in the state, I felt best equipped to offer some correction to Nancy’s letter.
It is clear that she and I see this issue very differently, and I respect her views. I also believe that debate and differences of ideas are what build stronger communities. With that, I again stress that facts in debate matter. With respect I offer these corrections to Nancy’s letter:
Bella Vita’s outreach of the Pregnancy Center and the Medical Pregnancy Centers are required to follow medical regulations, although different clinics have different regulations that are required across all medical fields. Each Center has a licensed Medical Director, a board certified OBGYN, and because of their licensure there are regulations that must be followed. Medical Pregnancy Centers go above and beyond to safeguard our client’s information, not sharing any of their protected health information without their written consent.
Because the author doesn’t share how pregnant women are misled, I can’t speak to the direct allegation she’s making; however, Bella Vita Network’s Pregnancy Center and similar centers have disclaimers on their Google listings that they don’t provide abortions and have consent for services that explain that abortion is not a provided service. Women coming to the Pregnancy Center are often still in the decision making process and the Pregnancy Center helps to walk with these women in a decision. Recently, a woman who had come to the Pregnancy Center
and had chosen to have an abortion let us know how much she appreciated a safe place to process with no judgment.
Nancy goes on to say that Pregnancy Centers do not employ medical professionals. This is just not factual. Here at Bella Vita, we have 18 licensed medical professionals ranging from Doctors, RNs/BSNs, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, and RDMSs. Charlotte Lozier Insitute’s study of Ohio Pregnancy Centers in 2022 cited that 24% of pregnancy center staff were medical professionals and an additional 9% of volunteers were also medical professionals.
Nancy shares about her time volunteering to escort women into the abortion facility and the experiences that she witnessed on the sidewalk. None of those individuals on the sidewalk are affiliated with the Pregnancy Center, but I would call on any pro-life person called to the sidewalk to do so in a manner that is befitting a Christian, and from a posture that Nancy has value, her coworkers have value, the women going in/out have value.
The funding that Nancy is referring to is the Ohio Pregnancy and Parenting funding that the state allocates to organizations that serve pregnant and parenting families. The funding is often used to help underwrite educational programs for these moms and dads. Additional data from the Charlotte Lozier report shows that $5 million in educational and support services were provided, $8.7 million in medical services, and $2.8 million in material assistance like diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, car and seats.
Voters in Ohio voted last year for choice, and part of choice is pregnancy centers, offering a myriad of services to the women who walk through our doors. I’m not sure what medically inaccurate information Nancy is speaking about, but Bella Vita Network’s Pregnancy Center and Ohio’s Medical Pregnancy Centers pride ourselves on accurate information. It’s why we are largely in favor of keeping the ultrasound requirement for women who are considering
abortion, because it places more accurate information in the hands of women, giving them power to make informed decisions. The requirement has been recently enjoined due to a lawsuit brought by the ACLU. Pregnancy Centers agree that compassion without medically accurate information is dangerous and it’s why we believe the laws that require an ultrasound, informed consent, and doctor provided care for the administration of the abortion pill should be reinstated.
Nancy also gives inaccurate information about what’s being told to women who are looking for birth control or have an ectopic pregnancy. For women asking about birth control we ask them to consult with their OBGYN or Family Doctor, because continuity of care is important. Our sonographers are trained to detect easy signs of an ectopic pregnancy and encourage same day visits to their doctors or the emergency room.
I agree with Nancy, the stakes are too high to allow misinformation which is why I wanted to offer this response. We can debate passionately. And I respect Nancy’s passion, and her commitment to pregnant women. I think we need more people who will be passionate about making Toledo and Ohio a better place for women and mothers. I encourage people not to get their facts from hot takes and sound bites. Bella Vita welcomes people, including Nancy, to come see the good work we’re doing here in Toledo and beyond.
Savannah Marten,
Executive Director of the Bella Vita Network
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