PRESS STATEMENT:
The Radical Decision to End the PA
Pregnancy and Parenting Support
Services Program

August 5, 2024 

Real Alternatives is deeply concerned at the impact on pregnant women due to the radical decision by Governor Shapiro to not renew its contract with us as the administrator of the multi award-winning Pennsylvania Pregnancy and Parenting Support Services Program.

For 28 plus years, Real Alternatives and its service providers have served over 354,000 women at 1.9 million office visits. At every visit, women are directed to call Real Alternatives with any complaint or concerns about the services they received. There has never been a complaint from the 354,000 women we have served.

Eighty-three centers throughout the Commonwealth provided compassionate caring support services to 13,500 women a year, from the moment they find out they are pregnant through 12 months after the birth of the baby.  Over half of those women served are minorities. Those centers included Catholic Charities and social services agencies (48%), pregnancy support centers (37%) and maternity homes (15%).

Real Alternatives and the program have been commended for its work by two Pennsylvania governors, three secretaries of the Department of Public Welfare, one United States vice president, and one assistant secretary of the US Health and Human Services in charge of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding.

In fact, the program has been a model for the nation. Secretary of DPW Estelle Richman, under Democratic Governor Ed Rendell, recommended Real Alternatives and the Pennsylvania program to the state of Texas. Real Alternatives was then asked to replicate the Pennsylvania program for the state of Texas which it successfully did in 2005.

In addition, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, declared the program and its services “essential services” in the Commonwealth exempt from the statewide business shutdowns.

The services that this program provides to the women of Pennsylvania are crucial. Approximately 55% of women who came to our program considering abortion chose to bring their baby to term.  Also, 91% of women pressured by others to abort choose to bring their baby to term. Terminating this program will result in an increase in abortions throughout the Commonwealth.

Though the program, as a social service program, DOES NOT and never was intended to provide medical services, our hundreds of counselors throughout the Commonwealth refer our clients to health services. In fact, based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) calculations, our program last fiscal year benefitted the Commonwealth with approximately $198 million in health cost savings because our clients’ children’s immunizations were up to date. Additionally, approximately $301 million in health costs were saved because our clients received proper prenatal care.

Many of the political-driven falsities about the program were addressed at a symposium held in the fall of 2023 on pregnancy support services in the Commonwealth. Our program standards are described in detail.  Sadly, it appears Governor Shapiro did not view it.