Introducing Choices Care Pregnancy Center

According to the research group Child Trends, as reported in the New York Times earlier this year, more than half of all American children born to women under 30 are born out of wedlock. In addition to this, 41% of all births in the U.S. are out of wedlock. This includes 29% of white children born to unmarried mothers, along with 53% of Hispanics and 73% of black children. Of course, millions of such pregnancies end in abortion. Truly America is awash in what is commonly deemed “crisis pregnancies.”

Since the late 1960s, in an effort to respond to such pregnancies, and to serve as an alternative to abortion, the crisis pregnancy center movement began. There are now over 4,000 such centers in the United States. Since 1987, Gainesville has been blessed with such an operation.

Formerly known as the Gainesville Care Center, Choices Pregnancy Care Center (Choices) began with a full-time staff of one and an annual operating budget of just over $13,000. That first year, the Care Center offered pregnancy tests, provided maternity and baby clothing, and 15 volunteer client assistants ministered to 182 often young and very scared young ladies.

Today, Choices has a staff of 10 and the 2013 budget will be around $400,000. Choices has 45 female client advocates, 25 male client advocates, a nurse manager, and two volunteer sonographers. They offer a variety of programs and services which range from pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, to STD tests (for male and female), to post abortion recovery support (for male and female). They also educate clients on the “adoption option” and then refer them to Christian adoption agencies in the area.

In the 25 years of its existence, Choices has served over 30,000 clients. Over 1,100 children have been spared abortion as a result of their work. In the coming year, Choices will provide services to well over 1,000 individuals, female and male.

The vision for Choices Pregnancy Care Center came about in 1985. The “core group” then consisted of Don and Sylvia DeLozier, Jim and Ethel Boone, and Brad and Mary Dunagan. The doors opened in 1987 with Sylvia DeLozier serving as the executive director.

The current director, who has held the position for the last 20 years, is Ann Gainey. Many local churches, businesses, and individuals help support the center financially. Local nurses and physicians volunteer their time to serve at the center or on the board of directors.

As a recent press release indicated, in an effort to broaden its reach and appeal to more young women and men facing an untimely pregnancy, the 25-year-old Gainesville Care Center has changed its name to Choices Pregnancy Care Center (or simply “Choices”). “We are changing our name, but the heart of our mission and services remains focused on the tiny hearts that inspire us every day,” said Ann Gainey, the organization’s long-time executive director. “Our new name also is more descriptive and will help people better understand what we do.”

The name change was a carefully thought-out decision in which even an outside consultant was hired to help in the effort. The change was made to serve the targeted constituency more broadly. The previous name was sometimes confused with nursing homes and senior adult day-care centers.

Also, the decision to go with “Choices” is an effort to reclaim the word from the pro-abortion community. “We are hoping to reclaim the word ‘choice’ and help young men and women narrow down and eliminate the choices available to them when they are facing a tough decision,” said Choices officials.

Mrs. Gainey also noted that, “Another reason for the name change is the recent opening of a second location off Winder Highway in South Hall.” She added that, “Most importantly, we wanted to attract more area young women and men in need of pregnancy information as well as our many other services.”

Those who visit Choices looking for help are treated with respect, compassion, and care by the client advocates and administrative staff whose goal it is to show them the love of Jesus in real and practical ways. Call 770-535-1413, or visit www.choicespregnancypartners.org to find out how you can be a part of this vital ministry in our community.

Copyright 2012, Trevor Grant Thomas

At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
Trevor and his wife Michelle are the authors of: Debt Free Living in a Debt Filled World
tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com

The Gainesville Care Center

Recently a local organization, with little or no media coverage I might add, celebrated a significant milestone. Gainesville Care Center, in late March, celebrated its 20th anniversary. To celebrate with them, about 800 folks packed the Georgia Mountains Center for a catered meal and to hear Fox News Channel’s Judge Andrew Napolitano speak.

Beginning in 1987 with a full-time staff of one and an annual operating budget of just over $13,000, the Care Center offered the services of pregnancy testing and providing maternity and baby clothing. That first year the Center’s 15 volunteer client assistants ministered to 182 often very young and very scared young ladies.

Currently the Care Center has a paid staff of seven and an annual operating budget around $240,000. There are 42 volunteer client assistants, three volunteer nurses, and five volunteer sonographers. This year they will provide services to over 1,200 individuals, female and male. The Center now offers a dozen programs and services which range from pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, to STD testing (for male and female), to post abortion support (for male and female). They also educate clients on the “adoption option” and then refer them to Christian adoption agencies in the area.

In the 20 years of the Care Center’s existence, over 25,000 clients have been helped. Nearly 1,000 children have been spared from abortion as a result of the Care Center’s work.

Estimates vary, but currently in the U.S. there are anywhere from 2,300 to 4,000 such “pregnancy resource centers.” These centers now outnumber abortion providers (just over 1,800) in the U.S. They are at the heart of the current abortion battle. According to a recent Time magazine article, “the Bush Administration has made them a centerpiece of compassionate conservatism.”

Many centers are independently operated, but typically most are affiliated with one of three national organizations: Care Net, Heartbeat International, or the U.S. National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA). Gainesville Care Center is affiliated with both Care Net and NIFLA. According to their Web site, “Care Net is the largest pregnancy center affiliation organization in North America with a network of more than 1,000 Christian pregnancy centers.”

Heartbeat International operated the first pregnancy resource centers in the U.S. and today, with just over 1,000 in 37 countries, is the largest operator of such centers worldwide. NIFLA operates around 1,000 centers spread across all 50 U.S. states.

Pregnancy resource centers have been around since just after the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, which legalized abortion on demand. The vision for Gainesville Care Center was birthed in 1985. The “core group” then consisted of Don and Sylvia Delozier, Jim and Ethel Boone, and Brad and Mary Dunagan. The doors opened in 1987 with Sylvia Delozier serving as the executive director.

The current director, who has held that position for the last 13 years, is Ann Gainey. Many local churches, businesses, and individuals help support the center financially. Local nurses and physicians volunteer their time to serve at the center or on the board of directors. Mrs. Gainey adds that, “We are blessed to have so many local churches, businesses, and individuals help support the ministry financially. The Care Center could not open its doors each day to hurting people in our community were it not for the local nurses, client assistants, sonographers, and physicians who volunteer their time so faithfully. Also, we are grateful that Georgia’s current Lt. Governor and Hall county resident, Casey Cagle, who is a former board member, now serves on the honorary board.”

Along with the other services provided, since 1994, the Care Center’s abstinence educators have presented a program on sexual purity and STD education in the city, county, and private middle and high schools, as well as area colleges. The Gainesville Care Center also offers a myriad of programs and services to churches, civic groups, and other local organizations.

Those who visit Gainesville Care Center looking for help are treated with respect, compassion, and care by the 50+ volunteers and staff whose goal it is to show them the love of Jesus in real and practical ways. Call 770-535-1413 to find out how you can be a part of this vital ministry in our community.

Copyright 2015, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor and his wife Michelle are the authors of: Debt Free Living in a Debt Filled World
tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com