Save the Storks and California Pregnancy Resource Center Partners offer other options for pregnant and parenting students
Save The Storks and other pro-life ministries are springing into action in response to a new California law that will put abortion pills in the hands of the state’s college students.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 24, written by state Sen. Connie Leyva (D). Set to go into effect in 2023, the law requires 34 campuses in the University of California and California State University systems to provide medical abortions to students. A medical abortion involves two prescription pills, known as Mifeprex, that induce a miscarriage and can be taken at home.
According to Storks president Paul Isaacs, “The passage of SB 24 is horrible news for the state of California, but it is a wake-up call for many Christians because what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. It often spreads to the rest of the country. And we – working with our pregnancy care center partners – want to be ready.”
Horizon Pregnancy Clinic taking next steps
Save the Storks affiliate Horizon Pregnancy Clinic in Huntington Beach, Calif. is currently taking steps to prepare for when the new law goes into effect.
“We are looking into an Abortion Pill Reversal Policy so we can administer the medication to reverse the effects of the first abortion pill for students who might need it,” said Debra Tous, Executive Director of Horizon Pregnancy Center in Huntington Beach, CA.
She also said her center is working on building relationships with the nursing staff at local colleges and universities so they will be aware their students have other options. In addition, they will start advertising on local campuses so students know where their center is located and what services they offer.
Pro-life group, Students for Life of America (SFLA) is looking at similar options. They support groups in colleges, high schools, middle schools, law schools, and med schools that help transform campuses into places that support pregnant and parenting students.
“This law is a backward step for human rights,” said Kiki Rocha, Northern California and Nevada Regional Coordinator for SFL. “This law is degrading towards women and men on campus.”
She also noted it could cause a number of unintended consequences. Particularly for healthcare workers on campuses who do not want to take part in handing out the pill. And more importantly, women taking the abortion pill in their dorm rooms.
“Is anyone following up with them? Will anyone be with them through this process” Rocha asked.
FDA report on the abortion pill
According to a report from the FDA, Mifeprex has caused 24 deaths, 97 ectopic pregnancies, 1,042 hospitalizations, 599 blood transfusions, and 412 infections between 2012 and 2017.
“There are so many potential risks involved in this,” said Tous. “My fear is that many of these women are going to be having an abortion with no proper care or access to options.”
Tous understands the struggle many college women go through when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, but she says, “people with kids finish college all the time. There are options; adoption referral, help with food, housing, baby clothing. We can equip them and help them find the resources they need. We have a multitude of resources to educate and empower her to choose life for her baby.”
Her center is one of 200 pregnancy resource centers located in California.
“Pregnancy resource centers can help college women in California find better options than the abortion pill,” said Save the Storks president Paul Issacs. “These centers offer a multitude of free resources, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting classes and baby items to help women.”
