Crisis Pregnancy Center

Transcription

1 Crisis Pregnancy Center On Organization Letterhead February 10, 2008 Mr. Bob Jones, Executive Director The Steven Jones Foundation P.O. Box Charlotte, NC Dear Mr. Jones: Greetings! [Add detail specific to funder]. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of [funder] toward our community over the years. Nationally, forty-nine percent of all pregnancies are unplanned. Women experiencing unplanned pregnancies are often overwhelmed and confused. Many do not know where to turn for answers. Pregnancy Care Center was created to provide free pregnancy support services to young women in crisis pregnancy situations in the NorthEast Arizona region. We exist to help these women. Our pregnancy support counselors provide accurate, comprehensive information regarding pregnancy options, and remain available to assist clients throughout the pregnancy and following delivery. We help women to care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy, and to make a plan for the future. Pregnancy Care Center also has a proactive plan to help our community. An unplanned pregnancy can be an overwhelming experience for any woman. Now imagine that the expecting mother is only 15 years old. Teen pregnancy is a critical problem in our society and in our community. In order to reduce the number of teen pregnancies in our county, Pregnancy Care Center has created a terrific, interactive abstinence education program called I m Worth Waiting For! Last year, we presented this well received message to over 2,300 students in the Ahoskie Area schools. We are planning to deliver the abstinence program to many more students beginning this fall. In order to meet the increasing demand for our valuable services, we need to expand our current programming. Please review the enclosed proposal and join with us to help women in crisis pregnancy situations. Thank you for your time and consideration of our proposal. If you need additional information, please feel free to call me at (252) Respectfully submitted, Susie Johnson, Executive Director Pregnancy Care Center Enclosure 167

2 Pregnancy Care Center Summary Page Mission and Vision Statement: Pregnancy Care Center exists to provide compassionate help, hope, and alternatives that promote spiritual restoration to women and men facing the issues of unplanned pregnancy, to serve as an educating resource to the community, and to bring sexual purity and post abortion grief comfort, in a manner which brings glory to God. The dynamics of our mission are: Share complete and accurate information about pregnancy options with women in crisis. Prevent unplanned pregnancies through abstinence education. Bring resources of the local churches and community together to provide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual support of women with unplanned pregnancies. Save the lives of unborn children. Provide education to the community on issues regarding the Sanctity of Life. Offer support and healing to women who have had abortions. Provide compassionate and practical support to new and expecting mothers. Provide referrals for medical care, legal counsel, housing and adoption services. Reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection through abstinence education. Target Market and Geographic Area Served: More than 40,000 women between the ages of 13 and 50 live within a 50-mile radius of Dakota. Women living outside of this area are also welcome to receive free services but this is our primary focus. There are more than 13,000 students in public middle schools and high schools in our county. Organizational Type: Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized in the State of Arizona in 2003 and is governed by a local Board of Directors with seven members. (Please see Page 6). Our IRS Department of Treasury 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination is enclosed. Primary Contact Information: Susie Johnson, Executive Director (259) Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona Website: P.O. Box pccofarizona@yahoo.com Dakota, AZ Financial Request and Purpose: The operating budget for Pregnancy Care Center in 2008 is $218,305 (see Page 4). In order to meet increasing demand for our services, we need to raise an additional $75,000 for program expansion and ongoing expenses. We are requesting that you partner with us to fund general operating expenses. In particular, with your support we will be able to increase our office hours and advertising outreach, offer limited ultrasound services, and expand our teen pregnancy prevention program. We are asking you to help us with a grant of $25,000, or any portion thereof, to establish a strong foundation as we reach out to help women in crisis pregnancy situations. TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED: $ 25,000 Evaluation and Accountability: The progress and effectiveness of Pregnancy Care Center will be determined by ongoing analysis and oversight of staff and the Board of Directors. However, because we are committed to integrity, we are willing to complete any reasonable evaluative measures that you request. We want to completely fill the page and leave very little white space at the bottom of the pages. 168

3 Pregnancy Care Center Proposal Statement of the Problem: Young women faced with unplanned pregnancies often feel hopeless and overwhelmed. They do not know where to turn for help and answers. Women in crisis need to discuss their personal situation with a caring helper who can guide them through the critical issues before them. There is a desperate need for free pregnancy tests and support services. Many women are unaware of early fetal development and need accurate information concerning their pregnancy options. Pregnancy education is helpful to them in making their choice. Women choosing to carry their babies to term need additional guidance regarding prenatal care. The mother s health during pregnancy is critical to the baby s development and health. These women must also make a choice between parenting and placing the baby with an adoptive family. Either way, they need continued support, education and appropriate referrals to help them through a challenging, emotional time. Solution and Project Description: Pregnancy Care Center provides free and comprehensive support service from the time a woman suspects she may be pregnant and for as many years in the future as she needs services. Women need a confidential, non-judgmental and caring place to call when they are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Since 2003, Pregnancy Care Center has provided free support help to over 3,000 women plus their parents and their partners. Services have been provided to women from 13 to 46 years of age. The Center provides a support counselor free of charge to meet with each woman throughout her pregnancy. Women work through many issues, are provided pregnancy-planning curriculum and develop a strong friendship with their peer counselor. In addition, women are provided referrals for medical care, legal counsel, housing and adoption referrals. The Center provides continued support to women who choose to parent their babies. A single moms group meets bi-weekly and offers moms an opportunity to gather together for discussion, parenting instruction, and emotional support. Moms receive a free meal and free childcare is available. Pregnancy Care Center is also taking a proactive approach to reducing teen pregnancy in our community. We have created a terrific, interactive abstinence education program called, I m Worth Waiting For! Each year this well-received program is presented to over 5,000 health students in Johnson County high schools. Our client outreach increased 25% last year, and demand for our services continues to increase. We have developed a strategic plan that will enable us to continue to meet the needs of women in crisis and to expand our teen pregnancy prevention education program. Our Strategic Plan Methods and Procedures: We plan on developing and expanding services to the growing number of women in crisis over the next seven to ten years as funds become available. 1. Ultrasound Services: The educational use of providing limited ultrasounds is a widely requested and helpful service to women in crisis pregnancy situations. We will hire a nurse manager to develop the program so it will be ready in early The nurse will follow strict guidelines to set up and manage the ultrasound program. 2. Abstinence Education Programs: We offer a free abstinence education program to middle schools in the academic year. We have developed this program to assist with pregnancy prevention and to lower sexually transmitted disease rates in the middle school student population. Presently, Pregnancy Care Center s I m Worth Waiting For! abstinence program reaches more than 5,000 high school students each year. It is increasingly clear that it is critical to reach youth at a younger age. 3. Development and Training: Volunteers are trained to be abstinence speakers at the middle school level. Additional senior high school level speakers will also be trained and managed for that program. 4. Training Leaders: Staff, volunteer counselors and telephone hotline teams will receive training and ongoing in-services to keep the Center s pregnancy support programs efficient and effective. 169

4 Pregnancy Care Center provides women in crisis pregnancies with necessary support services to enable them to carry their babies to term. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, providing: 1. Free pregnancy testing 2. Crisis and ongoing counseling 3. Childbirth and parenting education 4. Adoption referrals 5. Post-Abortion support and counseling 6. Practical donations such as maternity and baby accessories 7. Referrals for low cost legal and medical help 8. Temporary housing 9. Ongoing friendship and encouragement 10. Introducing visions of self value and encouraging abstinence as a positive lifestyle choice 11. We will not advise, provide, or refer for abortion or abortion services. Principles of Service: Pregnancy Care Center advocates the promotion of chastity and life-affirming values to clients who come to us seeking support and assistance. 1. Services promote life affirming choices for pregnancy and sexuality. 2. Services are presented in a loving, caring, nonjudgmental manner. 3. Services are presented to people of all races, cultures and creeds. 4. Services are confidential. 5. Services promote abstinence as the positive life choice for unmarried persons. Core Values: Our Core Values are derived from a commitment to deep Spiritual faith of our Board. 1. We value all life. From each unborn child, to the mother, to the father, to all with whom we come in contact, life is valuable to us. We believe there is always a life-affirming choice, and that there is always a better alternative than abortion. 2. We believe in personal responsibility. We empower individuals to make healthy life choices consistent with the intrinsic value of human life and positive sexual values. For those who have had a rough first start in life, we help them realize a new beginning in their life by providing the practical, emotional and spiritual support they need to make positive, life-affirming choices. 3. We are committed to truth. We are honest in all of our dealings with those who are facing unplanned pregnancies. We will discuss all legal options with them, and we will use the latest technology available (ultrasound) to show a mother the complete truth about the baby growing inside her womb. 4. We treat all people with compassion. We strive to reach out to all individuals with the compassion of Jesus as we provide practical help to them. 5. We are committed to unconditional love. Every person who enters our center will be loved unconditionally no matter what decision they make or have made in the past. 6. We invest in people. Whether these people are teen moms, volunteers, fathers, or those on our staff, we believe in people and invest in them in practical ways. 7. We offer hope and vision for a better future. With God all things are possible. The primary purpose of Pregnancy Care Center is to minister to women regarding pregnancy decisions. This includes not only those who parent, abort, or place for adoption, but also those who have a negative pregnancy test and are at risk for a future crisis pregnancy. In order to serve these women with the love of Christ by offering emotional support and practical assistance, Pregnancy Care Center has a broadly based program and offers Biblically-based counseling to its clients. While there are many schools of counseling theory and technique, even with the Christian community, we focus on the goal of helping the client come to her own decision without making that decision for her. By using empathetic listening skills and drawing out the issues the client faces, the counselor assists the woman in evaluating her options in the light of biological and Biblical truth. This approach is a delicate balance between the non-directive and the directive styles of counseling. Counselors are helped to accept, unconditionally love, and continue to care for clients who make decisions with which they may disagree. 170

5 The Education Program of Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona is administered by a professionally qualified staff using abstinence-based curricula. Components of the abstinence education program include: 1. Evaluation and promotion of abstinence-based sex education curricula in public and private schools. 2. The training of teachers in the most effective means of teaching abstinence to teenagers. 3. Presentations available for middle schools, high schools, and colleges on the advantage of abstinence and the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. 4. The equipping and inclusion of students who are practicing abstinence in presentations to encourage their peers to practice abstinence. Pregnancy Care Center actively cooperates with community agencies involved in sex education, teenage pregnancy, and family support programs as long as our point of view on sexuality and abortion is made known and is respected by our network. We are actively engaged in community efforts which address pregnancyrelated issues such as teenage pregnancy and its prevention, STDs, prenatal health care for low-income women, housing, nutrition, and single parent programs. As an effective arm of the community, Pregnancy Care Center is represented by various staff members on committees and task forces of such efforts. Our philosophy is that networking creates respect for referrals to the services available in the community. Pregnancy Care Center is an interdenominational, Christian association committed to spreading the message of hope and compassion to women who may otherwise believe that abortion is their only option. We are praying for faithful partners who share our passion for saving unborn babies. Our focus is to reach women in need and our goal is to take the crisis out of their unplanned pregnancy. Organizational Background and History: In March 2000, a small group of interested individuals met at Dakota Christian Center to discuss the vision for a crisis pregnancy center to serve our area. A steering committee of six was soon formed to begin the development phase of the center. The steering committee worked under the direction of CareNet in the startup and continuing services of 750 crisis pregnancy centers throughout the United States and Canada. We attained IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporation status in October Shortly thereafter, the steering committee disbanded and the founding Board of Directors began fundraising and public awareness projects. In October 2003, the Board hired Susie Johnson to serve as the Executive Director. The crisis pregnancy center officially opened its doors on November 1, Previous Program Accomplishments: There have been over 600 babies born to women who have received our services during their pregnancy situations. In 2007, we expect our total client outreach to increase by 25%, and great things happen: aid 250+ new pregnancy clients and administered 300 pregnancy tests; 35+ new babies born to new pregnancy clients; the Center s Hotline to receive 500 calls; to present our abstinence education program to over 3,500 high school students. Our Timing: Our programs are ongoing and in full process at this time. The only barrier to additional implementation and expansion is financial. Again, we want to completely fill the pages

6 Pregnancy Care Center Budget (in thousands) I. Salaries, Wages, and Benefits II. Office Space and Utilities III IV. Supplies and Materials V. Travel and Conferences VI. Mentoring Program VII VIII. Other Miscellaneous: TOTAL: $ $ Note: Fiscal year equals calendar year - January 1 to December 31. Summary: You can offer us tremendous help as we begin this new plan. We are very open to any evaluation, input, or ideas you are willing to give, and would be very excited to work toward an ongoing partnership. We are eager to discuss this proposal with you and stand ready to provide any additional information which will assist you in your decision-making. Thank you. 172

7 Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona ATTACHMENTS I. Leadership and Board of Directors II. List of Immediate Needs III. Letters of Support and Endorsement (no more than 3 BUT don t send originals!) IV. Organizational Brochure V. 501 (c)(3) I.R.S. Department of Treasury Determination Letter 173

8 Pregnancy Care Canter Leadership and Board of Directors Executive Director: Susie Johnson, Executive Director (259) Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona Website: P.O. Box Dakota, AZ Advisory Board Occupation City, State The Honorable John Ashcroft U. S. Senator Washington, D.C. Judge Judy Circuit Court Judge Redlands, CA Dr. Allison Glenne High School Principal Slocum, MO Rev. Bob Jones Pastor Branson, MO Mr. Matt Hodkins Author Phoenix, AZ Ms. Lexie Fae Burford Publisher Slocum, MO Board Members: Mr. Steven J. Jones, President and CEO Ms. Allison Glenne, Retired Director Artful Askers Southwestern Bell P.O. Box 1225 P.O. Box 1225 Slocum, MO Slocum, MO Mr. Benjamin James, President Mrs. Audrey Briande, Attorney and CPA Ghost Writers of America Jones and Jones and Jones and Jones P.O. Box 1225 P.O. Box 1225 Slocum, MO Slocum, MO Mr. Andrew Emerson, Vice President Mrs. Connie S. Jones, Assistant DOW Chemical Jones Household P.O. Box 1225 P.O. Box 1225 Slocum, MO Slocum, MO Mr. Steven J. Jones, Chief Cook Jones Household P.O. Box 1225 Slocum, MO [follow this template] 174

9 Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona (follow this template!) List of Immediate Needs 1. Teacher Salary Increases: Our teachers are dedicated to training young people. We have long-tenured teachers, many having served for 15 years or more. The average salary for the year is $21,065. What an encouragement and what a burden lifter it would be to be able to bring salaries up to or even near their public school counterparts, around $30,000. For the upcoming school year, we have committed to increasing salaries by as much as $2,000 per teacher/year. With 21full-time faculty, this decision was monumental. Even with this increase, without benefits we still lag in competing for new teachers. Total Cost to meet this need is $ 42, Tuition Scholarship Fund: We live in a wonderful community with a wide and diverse population. Our families are dominantly middle income households, many single parent, with two or three school age children. Our average tuition of $2,900 per child for these households quickly becomes $5,800 to $8,700 per year. For many of our area families these amounts can equal more than 30% of the total household income. A "Christian" school for these families is simply out of reach. Having a scholarship fund would: allow a family to pay a much more manageable tuition. empower us to serve and influence more families. increase participation in school services such as before and after school care or sports. Total Needed is $ 85, Discovery Program and Teacher: No area of curriculum has had more continual and dynamic changes than computers and technology. Additionally, employment opportunities for persons teaching computer technology has expanded tremendously often offering incredible salaries. However, equipment, link fees, and salary are huge expenses. To have a computer curriculum, the expense budget is a multiple of any other area of study and yet every parent and student correctly demand computer systems and training. We have committed to providing no less than needed. The school year will begin with a new computer lab. We have realigned our classrooms to use a larger space to accommodate better computer terminals and teaching aids such as a digital overhead projector for teachers to demonstrate material presented. Total Cost is $ 56, Upgrade Teacher Computers and Classroom Computers: The speed of new computers would allow teachers and students to use time more wisely. Teacher computers are older than those in the student lab which are reconditioned four-year-old computers and need to be replaced with efficient equipment. Total Cost is $ 46, Add and Update Books in the Library: It is important to keep library holdings current, and has not been possible over the past few years. Money is needed to add new books and to update the current holdings so that the library will be more useful to our students. Total Cost is $ 20, New Intercom System: For ten years, our present system has done its job. However, it needs to be replaced. Total Cost is $ 8,

10 Become a Partner with Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona! Please join hands with us to help women in crisis today. Grassroots, community support to help us reach women facing an unplanned pregnancy is critical. Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona is committed to empowering women to make informed decisions through truthful information, counseling and the gift of ultrasound. When we educate a woman in crisis by providing fetal developmental information, by showing her pictures of a baby at her stage of gestation, we have increased her head knowledge. But when that same frightened mother is allowed a peek into her womb to see her own baby, with her own eyes, her spirit, heart and soul becomes involved. With ultrasound, denial is dissolved and the lie of her baby being only a mass of tissue is shattered. Please help us share this truth with all women. A Pregnancy Care Center Partner Can Help By: Lifting us up in prayer daily and encouraging others to do the same. Providing financial resources through one-time gifts and on-going monthly support. Volunteering time to work at the center or in one of our programs. Helping with regular maintenance, cleaning, or special needs of the facility. Participating in fundraising efforts. Introducing Pregnancy Care Center to friends, family and local church leadership. Contact us and find out more ways you can help! Let us know how you can help, too! detach and mail Name Occupation Address City State Zip Phones: (Home) (Work) (Cell) 1. Yes, I will support Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona with a monthly pledge of: $20 $50 $100 or other (please specify) $. 2. Yes, I will support Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona with a one-time gift of $ to assist with start-up expenses, training of volunteer staff, facility needs and ultrasound equipment. 3. Yes, I would like to participate in the training classes for peer counselor, pregnancy consultant, small group leader, educator, or in some other way... Please contact me. 4. Yes, I will pray regularly for your work! Pregnancy Care Center is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Please send your tax-deductible gift to: Pregnancy Care Center of Arizona P.O. Box 1225 Dakota, AZ I would NOT include this last page with your proposals BUT I am leaving it for you to utilize the letter in other ways with Press Releases, to hand out at Fairs, church meetings, with special mail outs, or other mailings. 176