By State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond)
In Indiana, more than 80,000 babies were born in 2024. In 2023, 15.5% of woman received inadequate prenatal care and 6.3% of babies were born in maternity care deserts, according to a recent study. That's why I've supported programs like the Indiana Pregnancy Promise Program and My Health Baby, which connects women to local services during pregnancy and for the first year after birth. That being said, pregnancy resource centers in our state are stepping up to fill in the gap in a major way.
This session, I was glad to have the support of my colleagues in passing a resolution I authored to honor these pregnancy resource centers for the important work they do to support pregnant women and children in our state.
Indiana has over 2,500 pregnancy resource centers throughout the state that provide comprehensive, life-affirming care to families as well as compassionate and confidential mental health support for mothers through peer counseling and 24-hour support lines. In Senate District 27, we have great pregnancy resource centers including Birthright of Richmond, Henry County Pregnancy Care Center and the Brookville Pregnancy Care Center.
I was also glad to help author a law that was recently signed by the governor to ensure Hoosier students receive an age-appropriate, medically accurate, in-person presentation on human growth and fetal development during pregnancy. It is vital that we teach young Hoosiers about the amazing reality of human development before birth.
Building a culture that values the sanctity of every human life in our state will require both education and addressing the needs of pregnant women and young families in our state, and these are two important steps we took this legislative session to support that goal.
Constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form on the IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Raatz website or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
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