Hope Center Corsicana 2021 Year End Report

the 2021 help & hope report Symbols of hope from a year of continued uncertainty.

BOARD

Kristen Smith, President Amy Nicholson, Vice President Chance Kirk, Treasurer Kelly Black, Secretary David Brewer Mike Schroeder Michael Bedard Riley Bland Stan Miles Rob Glass Trisha Wren Ashley Pruitt

STAFF

Lauren Venable, Executive Director Michelle Spears, Medical Director Kayla Skinner, Nurse Manager Joyce Cawthorn, Lead Client Care Coordinator Alison Palmer, Education Services Director Rachel Moore, Bilingual Client Care Coordinator Audrey Reed, Community Programs Coordinator Megan Fryer, Staff Nurse

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2021 Year End Report Note from the Director 2021 Impact in Numbers Learning & Growing Back Alley Redemption Community Involvement A New Address List of Services

note from the director

SUPPORT CHANGES EVERYTHING

I attended a conference for pregnancy center directors in the fall of 2019 in Colorado.

One of the activities we were kindly forced to do was rock climbing... something I had never done before. I'm not one who likes to do something I don't know I can do (and do well) so this felt like a stretch. I remember putting on the harness and watching as the instructor threaded the rope through my equipment followed by hers.

My nerves were jumping.

I was wearing the right shoes and the correct attire (although they did poke some fun at the fact that I kept my giant earrings on), but I had NO clue what came next. I looked the part.. but rock climbing was certainly not a skill set I had mastered. I was given some brief instruction on how to place my feet, what to use as hand holds and then told to head on up. I made it the first few feet just with sheer stubbornness - I am a redhead after all. But finding grips became hard, my feet weren't used to this position and the rock face felt much higher when I was up against it. Moving inches when it felt like I should be moving miles was exhausting. I heaved a sigh, disappointed with my performance in front of my peers, and prepped myself to announce that I was done. But before I could, the instructor chimed in.

"I've got you. You're tethered to me and safe. Lean back into your harness, take your hands off the rock face, and look at it from a different angle. You have several paths up - I think you'll see them clearly if you have a different perspective. Don't stop.. just rest."

Fellow pregnancy center directors watching from below echoed her support. "You've got this, Lauren!" "Just a few inches up and to your left and you'll have a good hold!"

"The view from the top is amazing!"

The words rang through my head and resonated into my soul, "Don't stop... just rest."

I remember sitting down to write this letter to you all last year thinking, "We've almost made it through!" Little did I know we were about to step into yet another year of uncertainty, constant changes, and continuing unknown.

2021 has felt a bit like climbing that rock face. Those first few feet we made it up could be equated to 2020 - we did it out of sheer stubbornness. And then we look up, weary, already bruising and feeling the strain, only to see we've traveled inches - not miles.

If there's one thing a pandemic will bring to light it's the true fragility of human kind. But what we've seen in our brushes with death, navigation of new boundaries, and periods of isolation is that with extreme vulnerability comes beautiful clarity. Letting trusted people into hard places to help shed light is always beneficial - and that's exactly what our clients have allowed us to do. We've seen women come to us this year more and more aware of their need for support. It's been such a gift to meet them in those vulnerable moments with much of the same encouragement I was offered on the rock face. "Rest. Don't stop... just rest. Let us help carry your burden, let us cheer you on, help pray for the Lord to make the path clear, help point out your next foot hold, and remind you you're not alone."

SUPPORT CHANGES EVERYTHING. Just ask the 26 babies whose mamas came to Hope Center intending to abort yet changed their mind and gave them a chance at life. We didn't magically change their situations or fix all their problems, we just held safe space for them to process and took time to show them what true support looks like. Whether it was helping them secure medical coverage, getting them connected with a physician, offering a free ultrasound, getting them plugged into our education community, helping them earn free items each month, or even just listening when they felt like no one would - it was in those moments of support that the entire lifetime of a child was secured.

Our ability to stand and support those who come to us is largely made possible by each of you choosing to do the same for Hope Center. You've prayed for us, donated clothing or diapers, asked how you could help, given financially, and have sent individuals our way who were facing hardship. Thank you. The work isn't finished, the fight is still fresh, and we are grateful to know each of you are in this with us.

For HIm, For LIFE.

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT Fundraising Events 19.4%

$101,345 (one-time banquet donations, corn hole tournament, baby bottle boomerang)

Donor Gifts 14.3% $74,595 (churches, monthly donations, memorials)

Grants/Trusts 66.2% $345,333 (local,national & government grants) stats reflect clients served 01/01/21 - 11/05/21

COMMUNITY IMPACT

1000+ STUDENTS TAUGHT IN AREA SCHOOLS

616 $26,000+

IN PARENTING NECESSITY ITEMS EARNED BY PARTICIPANTS

UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED

94

CLIENTS PARTICIPATING IN CLASSES WEEKLY

TOTAL CLIENTS SERVED 3 , 7 6 9 TOTAL CENTER VISITS 4 6 0 PREGNANCY TESTS 2 7 5 ULTRASOUNDS 6 1 6 UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVED 16%

29%

28%

26%

age

age

age

age

14-19 20-24 25-29 30-34

2020 2021

4,000 3,000 2,000

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GROWTH IN CLIENT VISITS ALONE

V

67%

1,000

INITIAL ASSESSMENT VS OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT UPON ARRIVAL 2 6 ABORTION MINDED 2 4 5 ABORTION VULNERABLE 9 2 INTENDS TO CARRY 1 9 UNDECIDED

OUTCOME OF PREGNANCY 8 ABORTED 2 PLACED FOR ADOPTION 3 5 6 CHOSE TO PARENT 1 6 LOSS/UNABLE TO REACH

A CASE FOR COMMUNITY: Our education program, Hope Academy, has grown leaps and bounds over the last year. 350% in leaps and bounds to be exact. We averaged 22 clients per week of classes during 2020.

Now, as 2021 draws to an end, we are averaging 94.

While the items our clients are able to earn through the program are immensely helpful, when we asked what they valued most about the program, here's what they had to say:

"My husband was working a well-paying job that took him away from our family all week. When we saw the effect him being gone had on our kids, we knew we couldn't keep it up. I remembered Hope Center and the classes they offered. We re-worked our budget and factored in what we could save by earning things through Hope Academy.

Now my husband is home to help tuck our kids in every evening. Hope Academy gave us our family time back."

"I wasn't prepared for another baby.

I just wasn't. It had been too long since my last and I just wasn't sure I knew how to do the newborn thing again. The Hope Girls helped me find confidence in being a mom again. Not just for my new baby but my older kids too. I'm a better mom because of Hope Center."

"Having a baby during the pandemic has been really hard. I felt so alone. Being able to log into classes each week and feel supported by other moms and the staff at the center saved me.

They helped me find the joy and I'm so thankful they were there for me."

350%

GROWTH IN OUR ENGLISH CLASS ATTENDANCE

PROGRAM SERVES PARENTS UNTIL YOUNGEST CHILD'S 3RD BDAY

200%

GROWTH IN OUR SPANISH CLASS ATTENDANCE

60,000 DIAPERS EARNED BY ACADEMY STUDENTS ROUGHLY 2,000 PACKAGES PER YEAR 166 PACKAGES PER MONTH

18

DADS ATTENDING CLASSES ALONGSIDE THEIR PARTNER

119

TOPICS COVERED IN CLASSES SUCH AS:

At Risk Pregnancies Toddler Safety Infant Nutrition Caring for Yourself After Birth The Importance of Bonding Raising Highly Capable Children Mommy Nutrition Car Seat Safety Postpartum Depression Expectations of each Trimester Importance of Prenatal Care Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Milestones Tantrums

Emotions of Pregnancy Labor Expectations Simple Infant Care Mommy Nutrition Car Seat Safety Postpartum Depression Labor & Delivery Eye Contact Means Love Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs & Pregnancy Infant CPR Understanding your Infant Potty Training The Importance of Words

BACK ALLEY REDEMPTION

We received a phone call from “B”. She seemed a bit frantic and asked if she could schedule an ultrasound with us. As we spoke more on the phone, I was able to get a clearer picture of her needs as she shared her story: She was currently sitting in a back alley in Fort Worth, Texas looking at a run down, gated building in a residential area where she was told she could get an abortion.

She was scheduled to have an ultrasound and counseling there that day with the expectation that she’d be able to have an abortion the next day. As she sat outside, she just couldn’t make herself go in. Something just didn’t feel right.

Her sister was riding with her and remembered that back in Corsicana, where she was from, there was a place that offered free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and services for women.. The sister encouraged “B” to look us up right then and just call us to see what we could do. So… she did.

When “B” called us she was frazzled, worried and just didn’t know what to do. We were just a few minutes from closing time but knew this was an important opportunity to offer her counsel over the phone and just be a listening ear.

As we spoke further, she shared that this was her 4th pregnancy but she had no living children. She hesitated but then shared that she had 3 prior abortions. The heaviness in her voice was palpable. It was clear she just needed a safe place to put her thoughts and feelings - not just about her current pregnancy but her prior pregnancies and decisions about those as well. We were honest with her and let her know that we weren’t an abortion clinic nor did we recommend or refer for abortion but that we were here for her if she’d like to talk through things before making a final decision. She said she understood and continued to share more about her current situation and feeling of despair. We invited her to come to the center - we knew she was over an hour away and wasn’t sure what she’d decide but we knew she’d at least have a place here to be seen and heard.

CLIENT STORY

“B” arrived at Hope Center almost two hours later. She performed her pregnancy test, which was a clear positive. We moved from the testing room to the counseling room where she sunk into the couch and bared her heart with our client advocate. She shared that she was just angry with her boyfriend and was making an abortion decision based on a fight. She knew having a 4th abortion was not what she really wanted but she felt like it was her only option. She said she has suffered emotionally from having 3 abortions in her younger years and now that she was older she wanted to be a mom deep

down in her heart. Our advocate was able to speak from a place of genuine care for “B” - she shared with her about ALL of her options and that we were here for her no matter what decision she made. Our advocate was able to share with her about our classes and how “B” could learn valuable tools about how to be a mother alongside other women who were doing the same, how we could help alleviate the stress of the cost of baby necessities such as diapers and wipes as well as the car seat, crib, pack ‘n’ play, etc. and that we truly meant it when we said we were here for the baby AND for her.

“B” shared that she was strongly leaning towards having another abortion and if the place had felt right she might have gone through with it. She then shared that since finding us and hearing of all the support we offered, she had decided she could carry the baby and be a mom because she knew she wasn’t alone.

“B” and her sister returned 5 days later to have the limited ultrasound done. “B” was 17 weeks at the time of ultrasound. She said that what she saw on the screen just sealed the deal for her. She was excited about finally being a mom.

“B” has been attending online classes with us but traveled back to the center to attend a labor & delivery class with our Nurse. She came with a whole lot of goody bags in tow - one for each of the staff here at the center. Her card to us read: "To the Hope Center of Corsicana Staff: These gratuity bags don't hold a light to the amount of appreciation that I have for every one of you! The name "Hope Center" is quite appropriate because you give women HOPE when there is none. Thank you so much to all of you ladies."

The part that brought us all to tears: She signed it with her name and the name of her unborn child.

2021 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FROM HELPING THOSE IN NEED DURING THE HARD FREEZE IN FEBRUARY

TO HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER

AND LAUNCHING AN IMPACTFUL MOBILE UNIT

HOPE CENTER HAS BEEN HONORED TO SERVE NAVARRO COUNTY IN 2021 AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK IN 2022.

BEGINNING IN JANUARY OF 2022 FIND US AT:

3124 STATE HIGHWAY 22 CORSICANA, TX 75110

list of services ABORTION EDUCATION Hope Center provides clients with medically accurate information regarding abortion. This is important for the client to know prior to choosing abortion as an option. If they choose to follow through with an abortion we will not refer and do not recommend.

ADOPTION EDUCATION AND REFERRALS Hope Center provides clients with a look at what adoption is, how it works, and the benefits of placing for adoption.

MATERNITY & INFANT SUPPLIES Through attending pregnancy and parenting classes the parents earn baby bucks. Each month they get to shop in the baby store for items needed to care for themself and their child. This includes but not limited to; diapers, wipes, carseats, cribs, pack n plays, bottles, burp rags, blankets, and clothing.

MEDICAL REFERRALS Hope Center provides our clients with a list of medical referrals based on their needs. This list is made up of medical providers that we know hold the same commitment of care and value of life as Hope Center.

PREGNANCY/PARENTING EDUCATION From the time the mother finds out she is pregnant through the time the baby is born until their third birthday the parents are able to attend classes. The curriculum taught is Earn While You Learn; an all inclusive research based curriculum for expecting parents and parents with newborn through toddler age children.

list of services POST-ABORTION SUPPORT Hope Center offers an Abortion Recovery bible study called Surrendering the Secret as needed to our community. This is open to any woman who has had an abortion.

PREGNANCY TESTS Confirmation Pregnancy Tests are performed for clients. Based on the results of the test, additional information is then given and discussed with the client.

SPIRITUAL MENTORSHIP Every client who walks through our doors is offered spiritual mentorship. This person is dedicated to praying for our clients and being a trusted member of their care team that is deeply rooted in faith.

LIMITED ULTRASOUND Hope Center provides Limited Ultrasounds to clients after a positive pregnancy test in our facility. During this scan the nurse and medical director are able to check the placement of the baby, gestational age and the heartbeat. This is also the time our clients are introduced to the life in their womb.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING Beginning in 2022 we will be offering on-site counseling for clients needing mental health support through pregnancy, parenting decisions, family hardships, or postpartum struggles.

hopecentercorsicana.com call: 903.872.2881 text: 903.201.2251