NASPA Online Learning Community

Crisis Pregnancy Center Deception: Special considerations for sexual violence prevention, response and advocacy work

Crisis Pregnancy Center Deception: Special considerations for sexual violence prevention, response and advocacy work

Includes a Live Web Event on 05/19/2026 at 1:30 PM (EDT)

Dr. Gemma Skuraton, DrPH, MPH, CHES, CDE, CDP, SHRM-CP, LAT, ATC, CWP, USAW, CPT, FMS, RYT-200

Director of Public Health Strategies

Twice Consulting Services

Dr. Gemma Skuraton (pronouns: she/her) leverages her power and privilege to serve the co-owner and President of Public Health Strategies for Twice Consulting Services LLC. Gemma has over 9 years of experience of sexual violence prevention and advocacy work in higher education, is a Certified Diversity Executive, Certified Diversity Professional and completed a postdoctoral Diversity Equity and Inclusion Fellowship. Gemma is a community-based participatory researcher and holds a doctorate and a master's degree in public health. Her portfolio includes a wide range of domestic and international projects which leveraged cross-collaboration among multiple political and community sectors. Programs under Gemma’s leadership were awarded the 2019 best clinical mental health program in southeast Georgia, the 2023 National Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Gold Award, and the 2023 overall Grand Silver Award for her work in reproductive justice in creating safe and affirming environments for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary college students living in rural Georgia. Gemma served as the past president for Georgia Society for Public Health Education, a certified victims advocate for a sexual assault center located in the rural southeast for 7 years, board vice-president for a sexual assault center serving the urban southeast for 5 years, and is a member of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. She currently serves on the strategy committee for the Fake Clinics Suck campaign, a grassroots movement to defund anti-abortion centers (a.k.a. “crisis pregnancy centers” and a host of other names) in the State of Georgia.  

Description
Crisis pregnancy centers, also referred to as CPCs or "fake clinics," pose a significant public health threat. These centers are highly organized and disproportionately impact survivors of sexual violence by disseminating disinformation on contraception, reproductive health, and abortion healthcare. This training will conceptualize the public health implications and special considerations for sexual violence preventionists and response advocates, as well as discuss societal and cultural factors that perpetuate reproductive coercion.    
Learning Outcomes
  • Conceptualize why CPCs are legal but unethical.
  • Discuss the public health impact of reproductive health disinformation on survivors of sexual violence.
  • Examine strategies for advocates and preventionists to combat reproductive coercion. 

Components visible upon registration.