Amy* sat in the small room, tears running down her face.
“I have to have an abortion,” she said.
Amy was a college student just past her 19th birthday and in her first “real” relationship. The room she sat in was at First Care Clinic, a program of Care Net Pregnancy Center, which serves women in south-central Wisconsin. Conversations like this one happen throughout the diocese. Pregnancy medical clinics and pregnancy resource centers in the Diocese of Madison provide free services to women facing unintended pregnancies.
Local resources
Local pregnancy resource centers offer services that may include free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds for pregnancy dating and viability, BadgerCare insurance enrollment for qualified patients, pregnancy and parenting education, material support for moms and babies, case management support including community referrals, and even housing for women who need a safe place to live during their pregnancies and early parenting.
Most importantly, these centers and clinics offer a non-judgmental listening ear as women and couples work through decisions about their futures.
During her appointment, Amy told her advocate she knew abortion was wrong. But she didn’t want to disappoint her parents and she was worried that having a baby at age 19 would upend her hopes and dreams for her future.
As she considered her options, she realized she would have the support and love of her caring family to help her raise her child while continuing her education. A same-day ultrasound affirmed her decision to carry her child to term.
“Over my 19 years at First Care Clinic, I’ve performed hundreds of ultrasounds for women considering whether or not to continue a pregnancy,” explained Tanis Jean-Louis, clinic director. “When women — and men — see a beating heart, a tiny baby kicking or sucking its thumb, or the face of their child taking shape, they understand this is a human child and their love for that child begins to grow.”
The work has increased
The work of pregnancy centers and clinics has increased since the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. Women continue to face unintended pregnancies, and many of them will need help. First Care Clinic and others can provide support during pregnancy and even for a year or two after a child is born. But families, especially those headed by a single parent, may need help for a longer period.
“This is the time for our churches to rise up to support struggling families,” said Sara Patterson, CEO of Care Net Pregnancy Center. “The people in the pews must commit to pray for, build relationships with, and provide financial assistance to help families thrive. We must be the Body of Christ.”
The Walking with Moms in Need initiative for the Diocese of Madison has asked every Catholic church in the diocese to respond to a survey to document the type of support available at the church for families in need. That information will be included on the diocesan Walking with Moms in Need website that is under development. Families will be able to find help in their own communities. To help publicize local resources, contact [email protected]
Pregnancy clinics and help centers in the diocese include Babies & Beyond of WI, Inc. (Madison), Women’s Care Center (Madison), First Care Clinic (Madison), First Care Mobile Clinic (sites in Madison, Janesville, and Wisconsin Dells), Pregnancy Helpline and Resource Center (Janesville), Care Net Pregnancy Center of Green County (Monroe), and Willow Women’s Center (Beloit).
*Fictitious name