from Talk to Action

Last week, in a story about the ongoing shutdown of family planning services by the highly influential "pro-life" contingent in the Texas Legislature, I gave passing mention to a parallel initiative -- the diversion of $5,000,000 in funds previously designated for family planning and primary health screening to promote and support crisis pregnancy centers.

Only two groups applied to administer $5 million earmarked to promote childbirth over abortion after Planned Parenthood representatives complained that application requirements were too tight.

The two that answered the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's call for proposals are the Texas Pregnancy Care Network of Bellville, partnered with Real Alternatives; and The Heidi Group of Round Rock, partnered with the Texas Association of Women's Resource Organizations.

Health and Human Services Commission spokeswoman Jennifer Harris said that although some adjustments in the program description had been made, "We still had to ensure that the active promotion of childbirth is a fundamental aspect of the statewide program that will be developed." It is astonishing that only two groups claim to qualify for this lucrative contract. But given the openly stated evangelical mission of crisis pregnancy centers that this initiative will support, meeting the requirements of both the state program and federal law may present a bigger challenge than dissuading women from choosing abortion.

In response to a question about the applicability of faith-based rules and the details regarding acceptable activities, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission states that "providers and subcontractors must demonstrate their approach for complying with Charitable Choice Provisions Applicable to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family Program ... of the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families." Federal rules make a clear distinction between a religiously-sponsored group and its allowable activities.

Federal TANF and State MOE funds that are provided directly to a participating organization may not be used to support inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.
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Thus, direct Federal TANF and State MOE funds may not be used, for example, to conduct prayer meetings, devotional studies of sacred texts, or any other activity that is inherently religious.

So who are the two groups contending for the state's $5,000,000 prize, and what types of services might we expect them to deliver to the women of Texas through what the state calls "existing community service delivery programs" '