Care Net, national network of crisis pregnancy centers, to hold Orlando conference

Care Net, an organization that manages a nationwide network of crisis pregnancy centers, is kicking off a three-day conference in Orlando.

According to Care Net‘s website, the organization stresses a commitment to helping women “facing unplanned pregnancies” and aims to persuade those women to choose “life and hope.” It adds that “the ultimate aim of Care Net and its network of pregnancy centers is to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ.”

The conference will feature some pretty big keynote speakers. Both Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, and Abby Johnson, a former employee of Planned Parenthood turned anti-abortion rights advocate, are scheduled to deliver speeches.

The conference is primarily focused on providing information to individuals that work at CPCs. Workshops include information on “how to begin an abstinence group in [a] center,” how to fund-raise, how to “position [oneself] for media success” and how to establish college outreach from a center, among other information. According to the conference agenda (.pdf), attendees will “hear from center leaders and campus experts who are using unique approaches to reaching and ministering to abortion-minded collegians.”

Care Net has a large presence in Florida, with a number of affiliates that run CPCs.

A number of CPCs in Florida (some of which are subsidized by taxpayer money) use inaccurate medical information to persuade women to not have an abortion. Care Net, in particular, has printed brochures that claim “many studies have shown abortion to be connected to: clinical depression, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Suicide” and cites studies that link abortion to clinical depression, PTSD, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. Psychology experts have said that such claims are not true.

Some Care Net affiliates are also present in schools in Florida. School districts invite the group to teach abstinence-only sex education. While groups that teach comprehensive sex education such as Planned Parenthood are being edged out of schools around the state, Care Net has maintained its presence.

Care Net was most recently embroiled in a battle with NARAL Pro-Choice America over new laws that require CPCs be more transparent about the services they do and do not provide.

The conference is taking place at the Gaylord Palms Resort and ends on Friday.