2022 EOY report

the 2022 help & hope report

stories of hope from a year of re-discovering community

BOARD

Amy Nicholson, President

Mike Schroeder, Vice President

Chance Kirk, Treasurer

Amy Nicholson, Secretary

David Brewer

Michael Bedard

Stan Miles

Trisha Wren

Scott Ackley

STAFF

Mike Schroeder

Riley Bland

Rob Glass

Ashley Pruitt

Lauren Venable, Executive Director

Michelle Spears, Medical Director

Kayla Skinner, RN-BSN, Nurse Manager

Ed Miller, LPC, Professional Counseling Director

Joyce Cawthorn, Lead Client Care Coordinator

Suzanne Curry, Education Services Director

Rachel Moore, Bilingual Client Care Coordinator

Audrey Reed, RN- BSN, Community Program Coordinator

Megan Fryer, RN-BSN, Staff Nurse

note from the director

W H E R E H E G U I D E S

H E P R O V I D E S

I'm writing this letter to you from a place where, this time last year, didn't even have floors or ceiling tiles or working a/c units I'll never forget having to step over the literal wreckage of this building to record the 12 days of Christmas videos we released last year. My camera battery ran out halfway through recording because the electricity wasn't turned on! I had to finish the videos on my phone!

But God wasn't bothered. And He used YOU.

Not only do we have ceiling tiles and floors now, we also have a beautiful waiting room, a professional counseling suite, 3 care coordination rooms, an ultrasound suite (that has seen so many babies), a classroom that is far too small (oops!), a baby store that serves over 100 families per month, and a bus barn for our mobile unit! DEBT FREE.

Isn't God good?

Just this morning I got to hold one of our sweet Hope babies Her mother brought her by to see us after a doctor appointment She was snuggled into her favorite blanket with her eyes wide open as if she was taking in all she possibly could I remember the first time I saw her mother in our waiting room - shoulders down, face streaked with tears. Worried, anxious, simply unsure. Today was so different - she was beaming. Confident, excited, and couldn’t wait to share with us all about how her sweet baby was such a gift. As the newborn smell permeated the waiting room and baby coos made the faces of our staff light up, I found myself pausing in gratitude. I didn’t pull out my phone to take a picture or ask questions about the newborn days and how they were going, I simply paused, closed my eyes, and soaked it all in.

And, actually, I thought of you.

For over 35 years, and because of supporters like you, Hope Center has been a voice for the unborn Our supporters come from all walks of life, ages, churches, and cities who unite around one thing - our belief that life is sacred from the moment of conception

Our supporters are the heart and soul of Hope Center We only succeed in our mission to protect the unborn because of people like you We want you in this with us! We are partners in protecting the unborn and raising up a generation of families who truly grasp the sanctity of life. I want to take just a moment to share with you some of our efforts this year as I invite you to stay in this fight with us.

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We are diving deeper into mental health services.

In February, we brought an LPC on staff to biblically guide our clients through past trauma, current grief, addiction, depression, anxiety and overwhelm as they journey through unexpected pregnancies and parenting. This missional entry into the space of mental health care has been such a blessing for our clients. We’ve been able to connect deeply and see so many truly experience freedom. We will be expanding this reach in 2022 by integrating these services into every plan of care for our Hope Academy participants

We are taking action to call our clients to a higher standard of parenthood.

Hand-in-hand with protecting the unborn and giving them a chance at life, is helping ensure children have a stable environment to grow up in Our Hope Academy classes are serving 130+ parents every week. From simple infant care to successful family budgeting; communication skills to dealing with tantrums, these classes aim to positively impact every parent. Healthy parents raise healthy children and as we seek to bridge developmental gaps and help the next generation become productive members of society, the most effective way to do that is education.

We are keeping Christ at the center of all we do.

Parents cannot value the lives of their children if they don’t, first, see the value of their own life We stand firmly on the truth that Jesus Christ is the author of life and that truth is woven through every interaction with our clients Prayer, phone calls, spiritual mentorship, connecting them with churches, letting them see how our faith guides us, helping them coordinate their healthcare, and even entering into hard conversations about real consequences - this effort is all-encompassing We may be able to help change some of their circumstances but Christ can radically change their lives May that ever be our focus

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade our country has been more divided than ever. We’ve celebrated the victory of the law being on our side while knowing a hornet’s nest is most dangerous when shaken. Threats, fake callers, news reporters, false reviews, online attacks… the list goes on. But these children, this generation, and the lost parents making decisions for them deserve the truth. We have not and will not let up.

These are just some of the ways we are continuing to fight for life and be a voice for the unborn But we can’t do all of this without our supporters Without you

Keep supporting Keep praying Keep stopping by the center with packages of diapers to let us know you love our clients too We trust the Lord and simply invite you to be part of His blessing to Hope Center

Praying for you as I sign off - blessings for a year full of LIFE!

We are taking action to save the unborn in every way possible.

"When I found out I was pregnant with my first son 6 years ago the Hope Center was the only thing I could get into. I was lost and didn't know what to do or expect. The Hope Center gave me so much comfort, information, and made me feel better. I stayed with the Hope center until my son was 1. This time when I discovered I was pregnant again the firth thing I thought of was Hope. I love the Hope Center. They give us so much support and knowledge on everything. I wish more women could learn from their classes before having their baby."

"Hope Center has meant a lot for me, especially as a first time mom. Not only am I learning things which will help me be a better mom or gain a better understanding of motherhood, but I am also earning points to buy actual items. I know in the long run hope center will help me so much educationally & financially with all that is provided to me & I am very thankful for that".

"Hope Center has changed my life. I feel more connected to my kids. The videos have shown me a lot I have learned so much from watching them I enjoy watching them each week! The hope center has also helped us financially. Getting diapers has helped us a lot! I loved going to the baby store and seeing all the baby clothes and was happy about bringing some home to my babies! Thank you so much for all you do!"

"Hope Center was at my college a few months before I was pregnant talking about their programs. Then a few months pass then I’m pregnant my insurance fell through and didn’t have the money for out of pocket. The Hope center helped me with my insurance. The hope center made me feel welcome in my time of need. The hope center helped me stay motivated. I would recommend The Hope center to any family because of the peace it’s brought to my life of chaos"

"MY BOYS GOT THEIR DAD BACK"

Client J joined us during the pregnancy of her third child. Life had taken several turns for her over the last few years and she went from wanting to volunteer at the center to facing crippling anxiety and hardship after high risk pregnancies and several miscarriages.

She visited the center during her third pregnancy as a client - nervous about what was to come. She was able to find comfort in our counseling room through connecting with our lead client care coordinator. She was grateful for the verification of pregnancy we offered and couldn’t wait to hear more about our educational classes.

Venturing out with two little ones during a high risk pregnancy wasn’t something she was comfortable with but our online classes seemed to be a really good fit for her. She began to attend right away but, unfortunately, her attendance tapered off after a couple months.

Our education staff continued to reach out to her weekly, inviting her to come back to classes and letting her know she was missed. After a 3 month hiatus, she returned to classes. And this time, not alone! Her husband was joining her!

During her next shopping trip to the baby store, she asked to speak with our education director privately. With tears in her eyes she shared that the last few months had been rough. Her husband had secured a great paying job after months of unemployment but that job kept him away from home for weeks at a time. It was beginning to effect their marriage and their children. She knew it wasn’t the best choice for them - so they sat down and discussed budget and realized with the help of the material assistance items earned through the Hope Academy, her husband could take a local job that had him home by dinner time each night.

She said, “What people need to know is that not only do you get a community of mamas through these classes and learn all about how to be the best parent you can be but the items you earn can literally change your entire family’s life. Thanks to Hope Academy, my boys have their daddy back. They get bedtime stories, and bath time play, and a dad at the dinner table. You guys have given us so much more than we ever knew possible."

GOALS FOR 2023

MENTAL HEALTH : Integrating Professional Counseling as postpartum support & education for ALL Hope Academy clients in hope of interceding before postpartum depression, psychosis, or general overwhelm takes root.

PRAYER PARTNERS : Rejuvenating our prayer partner team and having 100% prayer coverage for every hour the center is open.

MEDICAID ENROLLMENT : Several team members are trained and ready to help our clients enroll in Medicaid so they can begin receiving much-needed prenatal care early in their pregnancy. We want to continue these services and connect more clients with medical professionals as early as possible.

BRIDGE TO CHURCHES : We see many clients from many walks of faith. We plan to re-engage with area churches and have clear paths to connect our clients with faith communities in the area.

ADOPTION : We are constantly working to remove the stigma around adoption for many of our clients. The team will be partnering with several adoption agencies for further training to continue to offer this option in the best way possible.

MORE TIME WITH YOU

: Banquet & Cornhole tournament have been wonderful events to help us connect with you, our supporters, and share about the efforts of the center. In 2023, we want to focus on hosting more opportunities to gather and share stories of triumph - visiting small groups at your churches, hosting dinners, keeping you in the loop about prayer requests and needs, speaking at your church. We want Hope Center to feel like an extension of your personal ministry and for you to always know how to be part of the work of the center.

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, POST-LOSS SUPPORT

Hope Center offers cost free post abortion or post loss support through our Licensed Professional counselor..

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

Hope Center offers on-site, professional counseling for clients needing mental health support through pregnancy, parenting decisions, family hardships, or postpartum struggles.