American Family Association Urging Department of Health and Human Services to Include Adoption Counseling and Referral into Final Rule of Title X Program
The American Family Association (AFA, afa.net) submitted a letter recently to the Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra calling for adoption counseling and referrals to be included in the final rule for Title X.
AFA President Tim Wildmon states in his letter, “Adoption counseling and the ability to provide referrals for patients who are interested in exploring this option can be done without compromising other family planning services. Rather, including adoption will expand realistic options for Title X clients and will be a net benefit to many children who can enjoy lifelong benefits from adoption – and for the sake of couples who are longing for children.”
In March of 2019, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order restricting Title X funds from going to groups advocating for abortion. The Biden Administration seeks to revise the rules to direct funding to abortion providers while excluding discussion of abortion alternatives like adoption and family services referrals.
The Trump Administration updated Title X to include the Protect Life Rule, which requires “clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning.” It banned “referral for abortion as a method of family planning.”
The current administration is proposing a new rule change suggesting current rules have “limited family services for all clients, especially low-income clients.” This is a misrepresentation of the facts. Under Trump’s rule change, 18 abortion providers dropped out of the program rather than provide adoption referrals. At the same time, 50 new grantees received funding, serving more people.
After learning the proposed rule change, AFA President Tim Wildmon sent an emergency appeal to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra urging him to include adoption counseling and referrals to women facing an unplanned pregnancy. “Having a solid understanding of patients’ options, resources, and referrals, can help family planning providers and counselors navigate difficult discussions with clients,” wrote Wildmon in the letter to HHS.
AFA emphasized to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that the insertion of adoption counseling and referrals into the final rule of Title X will ensure access to equitable, affordable, and quality family planning services that are client-centered.
For over 40 years, AFA has operated within the mission to inform, equip and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission. Find AFA Action Alerts here.
AFA—founded in 1977—has long been on the front lines of America’s culture war. Today, AFA is one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with nearly a million online supporters and approximately 160,000 subscribers to the AFA Journal, the ministry’s monthly magazine. In addition, AFA owns and operates nearly 180 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner.
View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
