Daniel
Herbster reporting
One
of the most important causes in our nation today is the campaign to end
abortion. While it is important to wage
the legal and political battle so that our laws reflect true justice by recognizing
the inalienable rights of the unborn, another crucial facet of this campaign is
the battle for the hearts and minds of women.
Pregnancy resource centers, which provide real options for women
contemplating an abortion, do amazing work in our nation helping women and
families make the choice for life. Care Net is a nation-wide network that
serves pregnancy resource centers, and I’m happy to share with our readers my
interview with Kristin Hansen about her work at Care Net and of the importance of pregnancy
resource centers.
DH: As important as the legal/political aspect of
the pro-life movement is, why do you think an emphasis on providing real
options for women is also so important?
KH: The
pregnancy center movement was started in the 1960s by people who were strongly
opposed to abortion and also had a deep conviction about personally reaching
out to help women find alternatives. Care
Net was founded in 1975 as the Christian Action Council with its primary focus
to educate and promote legislative change on abortion. However, in the 1980s, we found the most
immediate path to saving lives was to offer women compassionate support and
practical help, one woman at a time. We
changed our name to Care Net and adopted a new mission to promote and grow a
national network of pregnancy centers. Today,
we serve 1,100 pregnancy centers across North America.
A grass roots, community-led movement, pregnancy
centers have developed and grown very effective over the years. Today, nine out
of ten women who visit a Care Net pregnancy center decide to carry their
pregnancy to term. Truly, if it weren’t for pregnancy centers in our country,
today’s abortion rate would be much higher.
DH: What are some of the services provided by
pregnancy resource centers?
KH: Pregnancy
centers offer a wide range of services depending on community needs. A pregnancy center in an urban inner city
area may have a different focus than one in the suburbs or one adjacent to a
college campus. However, the primary goal
of all pregnancy center services is to empower women to make an informed
pregnancy decision. All services are free, and that’s important. It indicates that the pregnancy center
doesn’t have a financial interest in their client’s pregnancy decision, unlike
abortion providers. Free services also send
a message of grace and forgiveness to a client who feels afraid, alone, and
perhaps ashamed.
Pregnancy center services may include: pregnancy tests,
peer counseling, abortion risk information, adoption and parenting information,
material support, parenting and childbirth classes, fatherhood support
programs, and community referrals to other service providers. At pregnancy
centers that offer medical services, licensed medical professionals may offer
limited ultrasound, prenatal care, and STD/STI testing and treatment. Many pregnancy centers also run abstinence
education programs in local schools, churches, and youth groups. Finally, pregnancy centers offer services to
those in emotional pain because of a past abortion. Tens of thousands of people have found forgiveness
and healing through a pregnancy center post-abortion support program.
All of these services are offered with the ultimate
hope that each client that walks through the doors of a Care Net pregnancy
center experiences the love of Jesus Christ.
DH: How does Care Net serve resource centers?