Pregnancy help centers

October 10, 2020

Pregnancy Help Centers: The Beauty of Life

How Your Gift Impacts Families

Since 2002, CCETN’s Pregnancy Help Centers (PHC) have been a valuable resource for the community. The programs provide nonjudgmental, unconditional support for individuals who are facing or who have faced a pregnancy. Our support to moms and dads, and foster and custodial parents respects the dignity and culture of each person choosing to move forward with their pregnancy.

“(Catholic Charities) is like my weekly counseling session. I don’t know what I’m going to do without it.” It was March 2016 when Ashlee first came to the PHC. She was 10 weeks pregnant with her third child. As a former social worker, she knew about the services and decided it was time to seek help. Between major physical illness, dealing with domestic violence, having to move several times and dealing with child custody issues, life had been filled with tragic events. The PHC has been right there beside her -- with a much-needed hug, community resources, parenting encouragement, or prayers. “(The Center was) someone to advocate for me, listen to me and help me.” Ashlee reflected. The pregnancy, infant development and newborn care classes were helpful reminders for her since her youngest was already eight years old. However, what helped Ashlee most were the parenting videos, which she says gave her a “new skill set” for guiding her older two daughters. Ashlee is also thankful for the items she was able to earn for her baby. At the beginning, she saved her baby bucks to purchase a car seat/stroller combination, playpen, and high chair. Overall, it was the little weekly items like diapers, wipes, breastfeeding items, bathing and eating supplies, and clothing that helped her the most. “I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t come here,” said her now eleven year-old.