Oklahoma anti-abortion program pledged to help 9,300 women. It spent more on salaries than aid
When a newly created nonprofit won a contract with the state to administer millions of dollars to crisis pregnancy centers across Oklahoma as part of a plan by lawmakers to reduce abortion procedures by encouraging women to carry their pregnancy to term, it pledged to help 9,300 women in less than 16 months.
But records show only 524 women were served as the organization spent twice as much on its own administrative costs and salaries as it did on supporting anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers across the state.
The Choosing Childbirth Act was created by Republican lawmakers to support organizations across the state that offer adoption services, counseling and other social services for pregnant women who might be considering an abortion.
The program was set up for one nonprofit to receive issuing funding to pregnancy centers and then be reimbursed by the state.
State audit shows Pregnancy Care Network fell far short of goals
In 2020, the Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit, won the contract with the state Health Department and said it was ready to disburse $1.6 million in less than two years, which would help an estimated 9,300 women.
But the network failed to reach 6% of that projection, according to an internal audit by the state Health Department, which The Oklahoman obtained through an Open Records request.
“The level of performance to date is concerning as well as the limited number of women actually being served,” the audit stated. "(OPCN) appears to be seriously underperforming and not utilizing the funds for this contract in the manner identified in the contract or the legislation that created this funding."
Since 2020, the network has been paid $428,073 by the state, but has only sent $122,981 to pregnancy centers, according to state purchase orders reviewed by The Oklahoman.
The nonprofit's Executive Director Madeline Craig said she did not know the details of the state Health Department's audit when contacted by The Oklahoman.
"OPCN was unaware of any issues until you provided notice of the audit," Craig wrote in an emailed statement. "OPCN will follow up with OSDH to see if any further changes are needed."
Gov. Kevin Stitt: 'We want to be the No. 1 state in supporting crisis pregnancies'
The Republican-controlled state Legislature has advanced multiple bills this year that would outlaw nearly all abortion procedures, including one signed Wednesday that is the nation’s strictest anti-abortion law.
As abortion procedures are reduced, some officials said there is a need to increase support services for pregnant women.
"We want to be the No. 1 state in supporting crisis pregnancies," Gov. Kevin Stitt said this week. "We want to love the mother, we want to love the child, we want to have adoption services."
Lawmakers allocated $3 million for the Choosing Childbirth program last year and have proposed spending another $3 million next fiscal year, even as the leader of the state Senate acknowledged most of the money has not been spent.
“It's not flowing as quickly as I want it to, and I've been talking to (Health) Commissioner (Keith) Reed and his staff about that,” said Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who spoke with reporters last week. “We are committed to trying to get that money flowing.”
Nearly $7 million has been allocated to the program over the last two years, but the majority of the funds remain with the state Health Department.
Having to use one organization as a type of middleman to disburse funds "has created a bottleneck," according to a statement the Health Department sent to The Oklahoman.
"Our internal audit findings showed there is room for improvement in getting the Choosing Childbirth Act dollars to those that need it most — Oklahoma mothers," the agency said. "OSDH continues to work closely with OPCN to ensure appropriate and impactful reimbursements are made in a timely manner to our critical service providers.”
More money is spent on salaries than on pregnancy centers
The Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network filed its paperwork with the secretary of state and the Internal Revenue Service in early 2020. Less than three months later it had secured a contract with the state Health Department to administer Choosing Childbirth Act funds.
“Women experiencing a crisis or otherwise challenging pregnancy are in need of support, not judgment or political persuasion,” the network stated in its bid to the state. “OPCN will identify and subcontract with compassionate, client-centered Providers.”
The organization said it was prepared to spend the state’s money in “every region of the state,” working with as many as 25 different service providers.
In 2021, only four organizations received funding — Hope Outreach Parenting Ministry, Legacy Parenting Center, Lilyfield Inc., and Willow Pregnancy Support, according to summary financial reports submitted to the state.
The majority of funds spent by the network have gone toward its own administrative costs, including the $93,375 annual salary for Craig, the executive director, according to network documents submitted to the state Health Department.
Craig blamed the state Health Department for "fatal flaws" in its contract that weren't corrected until 2021, although she did not specify what those problems were.
While the Health Department's internal audit is dated April 20, 2022, Craig said the network "is now providing over $80,000 a month to Providers serving clients in over 20 Oklahoma counties and growing exponentially," according to a statement sent to The Oklahoman.
The state Health Department said it received a $77,000 invoice from the network earlier this month, which is currently undergoing the normal review process.
Bill designed to 'cut out the third party' died in Legislature
As Oklahoma lawmakers advance strict anti-abortion laws, and the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to allow those new laws to take effect, abortion opponents say there will be more pregnant women in need of support.
"The need will probably be greater, but I'm ready, we're ready," said Barbara Chishko, executive director at Willow Pregnancy Support, an organization that helps pregnant women with free pregnancy testing and medical care, adoption referrals and housing.
Willow, which is nearing the completion of a new building in south Oklahoma City that will provide lodging for pregnant women in a home-like setting, received $8,126 last year through the Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network, according to state records.
Chishko acknowledged that the money doesn't seem to be flowing as fast as it should, but she is hopeful the state will find a way to streamline the process. She also said one of the challenges with the program is it only funds specific services and not operational costs, such as utilities or maintenance.
"I always look at it as if we get extra money then great, it's to do more, if not, we will continue doing what we are doing," Chishko said.
Legislative leaders authored a bill this year that would allow the state Health Department to contract directly with centers like Willow, instead of having to move funds through the Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network.
"This would cut out the third party," said Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, while presenting the bill last month during a House committee meeting.
While the bill was approved by the Senate, it did not receive a hearing in the House.
Minority House Leader Emily Virgin said she would rather see the state use the Choosing Childbirth Act funds on "proven" programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies.
“As we can see, this wasn't actually something that was going to help women or make a difference, it was more about the Legislature spending the money and being able to say they did something," Virgin, D-Norman, told The Oklahoman. "None of the promises they made is bearing out."
Oklahoma state government reporting is supported in part by a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation. To support work like this, consider purchasing a digital subscription to the Oklahoman today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma anti-abortion group spent more on salaries than pregnancy centers
