State Could Begin Accepting Grant Applications from Pregnancy Centers Next Month

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced it expects applications for the 2023 Pregnancy Help Organizations Grant Program to open next month.

In April, Gov. Sanders signed Act 622 of 2023 authorizing $1 million in state-funded grants for crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Under Act 622, the Department of Finance and Administration distributes this grant funding to eligible organizations that provide women and families with alternatives to abortion. In a recent announcement, the agency wrote,

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will be seeking applications for funding from organizations eligible to apply under the Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs) Grant Program.  This grant program was established for the purpose of encouraging females facing unwanted pregnancy to give birth to their unborn child. DFA is the designated state entity to administer the PHO Grant Program in accordance with Act 622 of 2023. Pregnancy Resource Center Grant | Department of Finance and Administration (Arkansas.gov).

Once preliminary procedures are completed in accordance with state law, DFA will open the Request for Applications. 

The anticipated opening date is mid October.  Announcements will be posted on our website at the link above. 

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations.

For example, Ohio recently raised its state budget for pregnancy resource centers to $14 million per biennium.

In Tennessee, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

The Texas Legislature budgets $50 million per year to its abortion alternatives program.

And Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million to pregnancy centers in the coming months.

In June the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration finished awarding $1 million in grant funds to pregnancy help organizations as part of the 2022-2023 budget cycle. Now the state is preparing to award another million dollars by June 30, 2024. This grant funding will support women with unplanned pregnancies and help build a culture of life in Arkansas. That’s something to celebrate.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

State of Arkansas Finishes Awarding $1M to Pregnancy Centers for FY 2023

The State of Arkansas finished Fiscal Year 2023 earlier this summer. Data reported on the state’s official government transparency website show Arkansas successfully awarded $1 million in publicly funded grants to pro-life pregnancy help organizations across the state over the past 12 months.

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have bolstered state funding for pregnancy help organizations that provide women with alternatives to abortion.

In Ohio, lawmakers raised the state’s biannual budget for pregnancy resource centers this year from $6 million to $14 million.

In Tennessee this year, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

Texas offers $100 million per biennium for its abortion alternatives program.

Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million in funding for pregnancy centers during the coming budget cycle.

Last year the Arkansas Legislature passed an appropriation measure budgeting $1 million for publicly-funded grants to pro-life pregnancy-help organizations — such as crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies — that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Many of these organizations provide everything from ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to maternity clothes and adoption referrals — typically free of charge. They often operate on very tight budgets and rely heavily on volunteers and donations.

This year the Arkansas Legislature voted to provide $1 million in grant funding for pregnancy help organizations that offer women and families alternatives to abortion.

Below is a breakdown of pro-life organizations and the amount of grant funding each received during Fiscal Year 2023.

VendorVendor DBAExpenditure
INFORMED CHOICES WOMENS CENTER OF THE OZ$79,550.31
PLUM FOUNDATIONPEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING MERCY$60,189.47
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST$60,143.68
SOUTH ARKANSAS CARING PREGNANCY CENTERHANNAH PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$59,698.97
OPEN ARMS PREGNANCY CENTER INC$59,134.74
HOPEPLACE NEWPORT$51,936.00
ST JOSEPHS HELPERS OF PULASKI COUNTYARKANSAS PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$51,718.00
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL ARKANCARING HEARTS PREGNANCY CENTER$51,708.12
HEART TO HEART PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER$51,480.56
HOPEPLACE MONTICELLO$47,271.34
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONNEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY CENTER$46,812.36
COMPASSION MINISTRIES LTD$46,221.47
HOPE OF THE DELTA CENTER$44,161.00
HOPEPLACE – FORDYCE$43,936.00
PREGNANCY HELP CENTERPREGNANCY HELP CLINIC$41,210.00
ARKANSAS BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOME & FAMILYCONNECTED FOSTER CARE & ADOPTIONS$39,962.50
PATHWAY RESOURCE CENTER$37,962.08
ALPHA PREGNANCY PROBLEM CENTER OF BATESVTHE ALPHA CENTER INC$32,768.00
CHANGEPOINT PREGNANCY CARE AND PARENTING$31,789.47
ACTS OF HOPE INC$26,230.96
CRADLE THE MATERNITY SUPPORT CENTER OF CKATHLEEN BLOSSOM$25,613.97
RIGHT TO LIFE OF TEXARKANA INCFIRST CHOICE PREGNANCY RESOURCE$10,501.00
Total$1,000,000.00