On the outskirts of Sandpoint, Idaho, the 7B Care Clinic operates as an anti-abortion pregnancy center affiliated with Care Net, a network of Christian evangelical centers. Initially called Life Choices Pregnancy Center and Sandpoint Crisis Pregnancy Center, it has been serving the community since 2001. The center offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting and life skills classes, community support groups, and children’s clothing at no charge, funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and more than 40 churches.
These centers, often labeled as crisis pregnancy centers, provide limited medical services and aim to discourage women from opting for abortions. Healthcare groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criticize the unethical practices many crisis pregnancy centers use to attract women.
Traffic at 7B increased after Sandpoint’s local hospital closed its labor and delivery unit. This left a void in reproductive health services for the town and surrounding areas. Executive Director Janine Shepard noted that 7B is expanding to bring obstetric care back to Sandpoint, including talks with a nearby Washington state hospital to offer prenatal care.
The shutdown of the hospital’s maternity services came after the Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion rights in the Dobbs decision, resulting in Idaho losing a third of its OB-GYNs. This situation has caused crisis pregnancy centers to gain influence in under-resourced rural areas. Some states have approved laws protecting these organizations from oversight, leading to increased funding.
The 7B Care Clinic provides vital resources to struggling low-income women. However, critics argue that religious nonprofits like 7B are inappropriate for pregnant patients due to lack of medical licensing and regulatory standards.
Jen Jackson Quintano from Pro-Voice Project criticized crisis pregnancy centers for misleading patients with free services before delivering anti-abortion messages. Shepard counters these claims by inviting people to tour the facility to understand their offerings—encouraging women to make life-affirming decisions.
Andrea Swartzendruber from the University of Georgia highlights crisis pregnancy centers’ role in maternal care deserts, stating they capitalize on healthcare gaps but lack the infrastructure to bridge them. As of 2024, over 2,600 crisis pregnancy centers existed in the U.S.—more than three times the number of abortion clinics. These centers often engage in deceptive practices like presenting misleading information online, targeting women seeking abortions.
The Trump administration showed support for these centers. In May, the Department of Health and Human Services launched a website providing resources for new and expectant mothers, including maps to locate pregnancy centers.
Sandpoint, a small mountain town, sits in a conservative and Christian area of Idaho with strict abortion laws. Amelia Huntsberger, a former OB-GYN in Sandpoint, feels the town is the perfect setting for the 7B Care Clinic’s expansion.
In areas lacking maternity care, crisis pregnancy centers like 7B are seen as beneficial by some in the community. Bonners Ferry midwife Lori Sabin praises 7B’s free services, helpful classes, and baby items for young mothers. Huntsberger also acknowledges the clinic’s benefits despite lacking comprehensive medical facilities.
Lisa Battisfore from Reproductive Transparency Now warns that crisis pregnancy centers, protected by First Amendment rights, enjoy lack of oversight, leading to misinformation about abortion and unethical practices such as the abortion pill reversal.
Crisis pregnancy centers have achieved legal victories to prevent increased regulation. Battisfore notes these organizations blur lines between activism and medical care, sometimes resulting in dangerous outcomes, like misdiagnosed pregnancies.
The closure of the local labor and delivery unit upset Sandpoint residents. Bonner General Health seeks to rebuild community trust by forming a women’s health committee. Despite offering some prenatal care services, the hospital struggles to fill a gynecologist position.
Sandpoint resident Makayla Sundquist, considering starting a family, voices concerns over traveling for childbirth and doubts about the accuracy of information from the faith-based 7B Care Clinic.
KFF Health News, a national newsroom dedicated to health issues, produced this report.