Choices
Commitment of Care & Competence
(Things you should know about us.)
• Clients are served without regard to age, race, income, nationality, religious affiliation, disability or other arbitrary circumstances.
• Clients are treated with kindness and compassion, in a caring manner.
• Clients always receive honest and open answers.
• Client information is kept securely and confidentially and only released with the client’s signed authorization or as required by law.
• Clients receive accurate information about pregnancy, fetal development, lifestyle issues, and related concerns.
• We do not offer, recommend, or refer for abortions or abortifacients, or contraceptives. We are committed to offering accurate information about related risks and procedures.
• All of our advertising and communications are truthful and honest, and accurately describe the services we offer.
• We provide a safe environment by screening and equipping all staff and volunteers interacting with clients.
• We are governed by a Board of Directors and operate in accordance with our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and stated purpose and mission.
• We comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements regarding employment, fundraising, financial management, taxation, and public disclosure, including the filing of all applicable government reports in a timely manner.
• All services are provided in accordance with pertinent and applicable laws. Medical services are provided in accordance with medical standards, under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician (or advanced clinical provider as permitted by law).
• All of our staff and volunteers receive appropriate training to uphold these standards.
By: Cali Rice, Charleston CSD
The home pregnancy test came back positive! Elise* immediately went to her phone searching for information on what she should do! She felt desperate for answers - but in all honestly, she was looking for hope in her situation. When she found Choices on the internet, and contacted us and we were able to get her in that day!
She shared her story… her boyfriend of 4 years had left her for someone else, just days before seeing the home pregnancy test turn positive. Her heart was shattered when she reached out to him to share the news - he wanted nothing to do with her, the pregnancy or the baby! Elise herself experienced life without a dad and she didn’t want to raise her child that way. She didn’t want her child to feel unloved by his/her father.
Growing up she also saw the painful reality of what being a single mom looks like. Her own mom having to work multiple jobs, struggling to pay for childcare, and to keep an old car running so she could work… the list of challenges mom faced was long.
After we shared with her about all of her options, Elise realized she didn’t want to have an abortion, but the fear she felt overtook her. She was mostly afraid of doing it all on her own. We assured her that she wouldn’t be alone – she would have the support of Choices to help walk her through that first year of motherhood (and then some). Slowing down and talking it through also helped her realize that after the shock wore off, her family would most likely be supportive too.
When she came for her ultrasound, the father of the baby came with. I was shocked and so was Elise. She said, “We had the chance to talk. He reacted out of fear too and apologized for what he said. Now he wants to be a part of the pregnancy and be a part of the child’s life. We’re looking at how we can be the best co-parents for our baby.”
Elise is getting signed up for our Parenting Classes to help her learn to be a good mother and help her break unhealthy cycles she grew up with! She is looking forward to being a great mom!
* One thing that stood out to me was what she wrote on her exit survey after the first appointment: “I came in so scared of what to do and I’m leaving with what I want to do. I’m very glad I came here!” That’s why we’re here: to be a channel for God’s peace and unconditional love to everyone who walks through our doors! Please pray for Elise -her story isn’t finished yet!
*Name changed to protect confidentiality.
Often times women choose abortion because they feel so alone and isolated. Our goal when they walk through the door is to make the woman feel loved and welcomed! When Amber* first came to Choices, she had left had finally found the courage to leave an abusive relationship and was on her own. While she had a stable income and a few family members in the area, she still felt terribly alone! While she was overcoming her addiction, her abuser had kept her away from family - she slowly was trying to regain those relationships. Each time she came to the center, I encouraged her to keep coming back. She did! Here she found authentic LOVE, safety and the support of caring people. I have run into Amber several times and she is always eager to share the updates on her little one. She could have easily had an abortion in her situation, but as she found God’s LOVE here at Choices, she was able to love her little one and face her fears. ~Cali
So much to thank God for, so many blessings! Not only do we have 9 babies making their appearance between January and August this year, there are 4 young ladies that completed the entire Earn While You Learn program at the Mattoon Center last year. Though that number may seem small to some, we consider it HUGE! There are lots of circumstances that will prevent a young mother from completing the entire program, but the four I mentioned, have blossomed into amazing parents who are raising happy, healthy children! Even though none of the young mothers accepted Christ in our presence, the seed was planted, and we have faith that the Lord will complete His work in them. It's hard to let them go, but it's beautiful to watch them fly! Please join us in praising, and thanking our Father, for allowing us to show the love of Jesus with so many! ~Tammy
This month we were delighted to have Kristy* come back to us with her second baby. Now, I know what many of us think about these situations, Didn’t she learn anything with the first pregnancy? I used to do that but, the Heavenly Father has patiently shown me that He has given me grace many times over as I made the same mistake (choice) again! Sometimes we learn the “hard way”! Kristy said that she remembered how much she loved coming to Choices and that she was always shown great love and respect. She wants to start where she left off with learning and growing in her knowledge of being a good parent and breaking the barriers of the past. She has new positive relationships now and she wants to be the best mommy she can be. We here at Choices look forward to watching this sweet little family grow and watch what God will do! ~Janice
Have you ever felt guilty of making mistakes in raising your children? When mine struggle as adults to figure life out – I think back to what I could have done differently…. Here in Casey we are doing all we can to help young moms and dads learn good parenting skills. We are even partnering with some other agencies in our community by offering parenting classes to their clients. The lack of parenting skills to provide a happy home (which equates to happy children) can be a generational issue. Bottom line: we have a generation of parents that don’t always know the best parenting strategy for their family. Many times, a parent calls to sign up for our parenting classes even before the agency sends paperwork, because they are in such a hurry to start the classes. They are hungry for the education that we offer to help them become better moms/dads, consistent in their parenting style, and able to maintain a healthy home environment for their children. It is a joy to get the opportunity to help parents break the old cycle that isn’t working and try to find lessons, tips, and support as they strive to improve their parenting skills. To those parents, I say, “Well done”! Keep up the outstanding effort to learn and apply the skills through our Earn While You Learn program. God is blessing families through Choices! ~GayLynne
*Always means the name has been changed for confidentiality
This may be shocking, but did you know that 70% of high school students nationwide are NOT sexually active? When I saw this statistic in our A&M curriculum, I was so shocked that I chased the source in disbelief. Sure enough, according to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, two-thirds of high school students report they are not sexually active (CDC). Now, my goal is to help them realize that it’s okay to continue down a path of abstinence despite what media and culture tell them. In the schools I have visited thus far, teens have been receptive, even excited, to now know there is a positive, hopeful path for them moving forward. Stay tuned for more details as more of our regional schools come on board! God is on the move! ~LeAnn
