Pregnant? Confused? Need help?
For hundreds of girls and women in Sweet Home over the last 15 years, there has been a place where they can get help in what can be the most blessed and also frightening time of their life…pregnancy.
That place is the Pregnancy Care Center located at 1344 Main, Suite C (behind State Farm Insurance).
PCC director Karen Bostrom has worked with the program since 1988 and says some 1,200 persons, some as young as 11 years of age and others in their 40s, have been welcomed over the years.
“We had 230 who came in last year alone,” Bostrom said as the PCC’s only paid staff member. She is joined in her counseling efforts by volunteer Ginger Hopper.
Based on a Christian focus, the PCC is “here to offer practical help and to provide information to help you make a choice that will be best for you” says an informational brochure.
All services are free and the program is open to all persons, married or single.
The PCC board of directors includes Bob Snyder, Bryan Brewer, Cathy Langley and Ken Culbertson.
“We work with local people and we’ve also seen homeless people who are just passing through,” Bostrom said. “We’ve have students in the seventh grade come here. We advertise in the Huskian the high school paper and we’d like to get more information to the junior high and lower grades.”
Education is a key ingredient in the PCC program, Bostrom said.
Girls are encouraged to remain sexually abstinent but for those who are pregnant, the center provides extensive educational materials.
One special program provides mothers-to-be with coupons good for baby and maternity clothes and needed items such as bottles, quilts, high chairs, bassinets, etc. The girls earn the coupons by watching educational videos on topics such as parenting skills.
“The coupon system works extremely well,” Mrs. Bostrom said. “They can watch videos on parenting, pre-natal issues, nutrition, etc. We want them to have a healthy baby.”
The PCC has a room filled with baby clothes for children up to ages six or eight.
“We want to be a practical resource for parents,” Mrs. Bostrom said.
Girls and women aren’t the only persons to use the PCC, Mrs. Bostrom added.
“Sometimes a girl’s boyfriend or husband will come by to see about getting a car seat or other needed item,” she said.
The PCC serves a broad range of persons and needs, Mrs. Bostrom said.
“We try to build a relationship, a rapport with each of the people who come here,” she said. “We want this to be a place where they feel comfortable. We want them to be able to discuss options freely with us. We try to offer a new perspective even though at times they can’t see from a fresh perspective. We want to help them work through their situation in a positive way.”
The PCC is a pro-life center, Mrs. Bostrom said. “We don’t refer anyone for abortion,” she said. “We’re not a medical unit and we don’t give out birth control. There are other options and we want the people to see them.”
All PCC services are completely confidential, Mrs. Bostrom said.
The services operates on just $18,000 per year, although most years it falls about $3,000 short of its goal, Mrs. Bostrom said.
“We are supported by a couple churches but we could certainly use more community help,” Mrs. Bostrom noted. “We can use financial donations, office supplies, good maternity and baby clothes and soon, we’re going to need another VCR. We have one that’s going out.”
A cradle rests in the front office of the PCC and is filled with quilts and baby afghans.
“We want the girls to see that a new life has begun,” Mrs. Bostrom said.
Some items that are always needed are good used clothing (up to sizes 5 or 6) and modern bassinets and cribs that meet current federal standards.
“We want the girls to know that we are here to love them. We are someone who cares about them,” Mrs. Bostrom said.
Although all persons of all walks and faiths are welcomed, the PCC is a Christ-centered ministry.
“We will share about Jesus with the girls. We prefer to show them that Jesus loves them, not just tell them,” said volunteer Ginger Hopper.
Eventually the PCC would like to be able to provide STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) tests. Both ladies said they believe STDs are a serious issue in the community.
About half of the PCC clients come for a free pregnancy test, the ladies said.
The Pregnancy Care Center is open from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Persons can call 541-367-2447 for an appointment or just drop in.
Available services include: free pregnancy tests, maternity clothes, baby clothes and furniture, abstinence information, prenatal info and classes, parenting information and classes, crisis pregnancy counseling, post abortion counseling, adoption referrals, pre and post adoption, counseling and Bible studies.