When a woman faces an unexpected pregnancy, often her mind is filled with questions and fears for the future: How will I take care of this baby? How will I provide food, clothing, and basic necessities for this baby, much less myself? Where will we live? How can I escape an abusive partner? How can I continue my career or finish my degree with a baby on the way?
According to the mainstream media, the only answer to her unique circumstances and questions about her future is the so-called “quick fix” of abortion. But where the abortion industry says abortion is your only option, pitting mother against child with no real concern for either, the Pro-Life Movement responds with compassion and a question: What do you need?
We don’t promise a quick fix, because needs are complex, circumstances are difficult, and healing takes time. Instead, we promise to come alongside a pregnant mother in need and her baby, offering support every step of the way along the twists and turns of her journey of motherhood as she plans for her future. We are there to support her financial, emotional, and material needs and to offer her hope and help when no one else around her will. And if she chooses abortion, we’ll still be there to offer her hope and help her find healing. This is what true compassion looks like.
Peer-reviewed research shows 60 percent of women who reported a history of abortion would have preferred to give birth to their children if they had received either more emotional support or had more financial security. No woman should ever feel that abortion is her only option due to lack of material, financial, or emotional support.A pregnant mother in crisis may first seek help from a local pregnancy center for an ultrasound or assistance with basic material needs for herself and for her baby. She may also need help with food, housing, finding reliable transportation or keeping up with car maintenance and repair costs. Or, she may be struggling to secure a job, get help to overcome an addiction, or find medical care and support if she has received a prenatal diagnosis for her unborn child.
The nearly 3,000 pregnancy centers and maternity homes nationwide stand ready to offer her life-affirming care and resources as an alternative to abortion. Countless food pantries, prenatal diagnosis support resources, pediatricians, lawyers, counselors and so many others are also part of the community that is ready to come alongside her with support in her time of need.
Her PLAN (Her Pregnancy and Life Assistance Network) connects and strengthens this pro-life safety net so mothers and babies are empowered with the support they need to thrive. Our newly refreshed directory of over 3,300 vetted provider listings in 25 states across the country encompasses life-affirming providers across seven categories of care, including financial assistance, work or education, material or legal support, recovery and mental health, and prenatal diagnosis.
In this Dobbs era, the Her PLAN directory is a comprehensive online resource uniquely designed to help life-affirming providers who are serving moms and babies each day. Our custom directory software makes it simple to find and connect with other support providers and filter local resources by location, service type, or price. Anyone can sign up to use the directory and access additional features such as saving searches, lists, and quizzes that identify the best care options for a particular woman. With an easily filterable map, the directory enables life-affirming providers across categories of care to quickly find and refer to one another so, together, they can collaborate to meet her unique needs and ensure she and her baby receive comprehensive life-affirming support, not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.
For those with hearts of service who are looking to take action to support struggling women and families in their local communities, Her PLAN’s Pathways to Life guide also equips and inspires churches, community leaders, and individuals with tangible ideas for how to find their place within the pro-life safety net.
The abortion industry’s false narrative may be louder, but the Pro-Life Movement counters it with a story that is true and support that is widespread. We are here to help them both and walk alongside mother and child to offer hope, unconditional love and support even years down the road.
Anna Stephens is Communications Coordinator at Her PLAN (Her Pregnancy and Life Assistance Network).
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