It’s a good day for pregnancy centers in Kentucky and around the country. Today, Governor Matt Bevin will sign a concurrent resolution praising Kentucky pregnancy centers for providing “comprehensive care to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies, including resources to meet their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs.”

The Kentucky resolution cited Care Net data which found Kentucky pregnancy centers saved the state more than $1 million in health services, education, and emotional support costs in 2016.

“Pregnancy centers are often the only place in a community that women and men can count on for comprehensive support when faced with a pregnancy decision,” said Roland C. Warren, president and CEO of Care Net. “Pregnancy centers don’t just help women and men choose life, but also give them the material, emotional, and spiritual support they need to give abundant life to their children and families. Therefore, we wholeheartedly join the Kentucky State Legislature in praising the courageous work of pregnancy centers in Kentucky and across the country.”

Rep. Robert Benvenuti introduced the resolution on March 22, and it passed both houses. The resolution not only applauded pregnancy centers for their “integrity and compassion,” but also condemned any move by the government or private groups to limit the mission of pregnancy centers in the U.S.

“The General Assembly disapproves of any action by the Congress of the United States, federal agencies, or state governments that would compromise the mission or religious integrity of pregnancy help centers,” the resolution said. It also condemned “the actions of any national, state, or local group attempting to prevent pregnancy help centers from effectively serving women and men facing unplanned pregnancies.”

Kentucky was one of 21 states that filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in NIFLA v. Becerra. The states urged the court to strike down California’s law requiring pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise abortion assistance through the state. The case was argued before the Supreme Court March 20.

In the last seven years, states including Colorado, Missouri, and Kansas have all passed similar resolutions honoring the work of pregnancy centers.

Pregnancy Centers are local, nonprofit organizations that provide compassionate support to women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions. Services provided by centers may include pregnancy decision coaching by trained advocates, free pregnancy tests, information about pregnancy options, material resources, and post-decision support (including parenting education and abortion recovery groups).

Founded in 1975, Care Net supports one of the largest networks of pregnancy centers in North America and runs the nation’s only real-time call center providing pregnancy decision coaching. Acknowledging that every human life begins at conception and is worthy of protection, Care Net offers compassion, hope, and help to anyone considering abortion by presenting them with realistic alternatives and Christ-centered support through its life-affirming network of pregnancy centers, organizations, and individuals. Learn more at http://www.care-net.org.

Alatheia Nielsen is the Center Content Manager for Care Net.