Contact: Kristin Hansen, Care Net, 703-554-8742

LANSDOWNE, Va., June 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Care Net, a non-profit organization supporting a network of over 1,000 pregnancy centers across North America, issued a statement Friday applauding NCAA President Myles Brand's recent decision to review guidelines and policies for pregnant student athletes.

"We're encouraged the NCAA recognizes that guidelines for pregnant students need to change. This critical issue deserves urgent attention," said Kristin Hansen, Care Net's Vice President of Communications. "No student athlete should ever be forced to choose between abortion and losing a scholarship."

The NCAA's decision follows an ESPN-U report that revealed numerous pregnant athletes feel pressured or coerced to seek abortions out of fear of loosing scholarships. The ESPN report highlights a growing concern over the lack of resources available on campuses to pregnant and parenting students.

Recognizing the growing need, this fall, Care Net will launch the Campus Outreach and Pregnancy Support Initiative, a program to help local pregnancy centers meet the needs of pregnant students. This program will raise awareness of the need to support students desiring to carry their pregnancy to term and to continue their education. Many pregnancy centers are relocating and opening satellite locations near college campuses to ensure access to key services.

"You hear the word choice thrown around on college campuses all the time, but too often pregnant students don't have any other choice than the one that their administrators or peers think they should choose," said Molly Ford, Director of Campus Outreach and Development for Care Net.

"Students that want to carry their pregnancy to term often face the loss of scholarships, housing, relationships, friendships, parental assistance, and the support of their teachers and administrators. They are basically forced to choose between their child and their education," Ford said. "This is a reason why you rarely see pregnant students on a college campus and why the abortion rate is so high among women in their early twenties.

"We hope that the NCAA's decision will be part of a growing trend among organizations and institutions to determine how they can better support pregnant students."

Care Net pregnancy centers offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, peer counseling services, post-abortion support and other practical, emotional and spiritual help to empower women and men facing pregnancy-related concerns. For more information, see www.care-net.org.