History

Care Net was influenced by the evangelical leadership of former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop and Christian apologist, Dr. Francis Schaeffer. The organization was founded in 1975 as the Christian Action Council by renowned scholar Dr. Harold O. J. Brown, with its primary focus to engage evangelicals in responding to the abortion crisis. 

In the 1990s, the organization’s mission crystallized into reaching out to women facing unplanned pregnancies through the work of pregnancy centers. In 1999, the organization changed its name to Care Net. Today, Care Net has grown to become the largest network of pregnancy centers in North America, with 1,100 centers serving over 350,000 women each year. 

As Care Net has grown, so has our mission. For the very first time, Care Net is now ministering directly to women in crisis through our 24/7 Option Line call center and website featuring America Online's (AOL) Instant Messaging service. A joint venture with Heartbeat International, the Option Line has become one of the most effective ways to reach the most abortion-vulnerable segment of women – 18-24 year olds – particularly on the internet.  Women facing unplanned pregnancies are turning to Google and Yahoo search engines for help—and there they find Care Net and the Option Line ready to connect them with the support of a local pregnancy center. 

The pregnancy center movement and the reach of the Option Line have continued to grow by leaps and bounds. In 2006, Care Net pregnancy centers helped more than 350,000 women in need, and nine out of ten pregnancy clients chose life for their babies. Over 20,000 people made new or renewed commitments of faith in Jesus Christ, and 13,000 participated in a post-abortion recovery group.

These are significant accomplishments, but there is still much work to do. With over 1.2 million abortions still happening each year, we must redouble our efforts to reach more people with a message of life and hope.

In the political sphere, many are speculating that an end to abortion is near. We pray that is true. However, whatever the legal status of abortion, Care Net, its network of pregnancy centers, and the Option Line must continue.  If abortion is banned in certain states, there will be an even greater need for support to those facing unplanned pregnancies and related sexual issues. We invite you to join us in changing the history of abortion in America.