Area churches look to bring Christian-centered pregnancy center to Watertown
Several Watertown churches are working with a Christian foundation to start a new pregnancy clinic.
After researching Option 1, a pregnancy center in Brookings, Senior Pastor Michael Wallenmeyer of the New Life Church was inspired. He is now shepherding the beginnings of a pregnancy resource center similar to Option 1 for the Watertown area.
“We were very impressed with what (Option 1) is doing, and we started thinking about beginning something like that here,” Wallenmeyer said.
New Life Church, Immaculate Conception Church, Cornerstone Church and the Midwest Bible Camp are the religious organizations playing a role in establishing the new center. Although they are still in the initial stages, they have formed a steering committee and board and have worked with a lawyer to establish a nonprofit status. The pregnancy center does not yet have a name.
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Wallenmeyer and the board want to create a center where pregnant women and girls can get an ultrasound and discuss what options and resources are available to them for free or at a minimal cost.
“So that they can understand the different options, whether it be if they keep the child or give it up for adoption. And to talk about the truth of abortion,” said Wallenmeyer.
The center will do more than offer pregnancy resources and ultrasounds. It will also provide classes for managing finances and developing life skills and counseling services for both men and women.
“There will be resources for diapers and access to basic needs. But mostly, if you find out that you are pregnant, we can point you into the next steps,” Wallenmeyer said.
Access to local pregnancy resources is the goal, and that's something Option 1 had told Wallenmeyer was particularly needed in Watertown.
“One of the really interesting things that (was) told to us when we visited Option 1 was that about 60% of their clients came from the Watertown area. I had no idea we were in such need,” he said.
Option 1 Center Director Haley LaFave declined to confirm that 60% of their clients came from Watertown and deferred the Public Opinion to New Life Church for any questions regarding the pregnancy center.
What pregnancy resources are available in Watertown?
Watertown currently has a pregnancy resource through the Sanford Health Watertown Family Planning Clinic. The clinic provides a wide range of resources, including reproductive exams, birth control methods, pregnancy testing and screening for certain cancers and sexually transmitted diseases.
The clinic uses a sliding fee scale based on a family’s size and income. It also accepts health insurance and Medicaid.
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“A big part of what we provide is education,” said Mary Drevecky, a Watertown Family Planning Clinic supervising nurse. “We do a lot of community outreach on the various birth control methods and (sexually transmitted disease) prevention. And we offer a full range of birth control methods.”
Because the clinic is part of the Sanford medical network, it also can make referrals for prenatal care or if additional medical services are needed.
The Watertown location, at 703 S. Broadway, is regularly used, and walk-ins are welcome with registered nurses on hand. The clinic had about 250 new patients last year which included men and women, said Drevecky.
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“That number has decreased over the years. We’ve seen that throughout the state in the family planning program,” she said.
Drevecky theorizes that the decrease is likely the result of the Affordable Care Act, which gives South Dakotans insurance options and allows them to go directly to a doctor to get care.
But what concerns Drevecky is the dwindling number of requests for educational opportunities from area schools and youth organizations. Sexual education plays a significant role in preventing and caring for pregnancy and in preventing sexually transmitted diseases. She said the education adolescents receive in the region ranges from appropriate limited.
“A lot of schools are now doing their own sexual education classes. I am just hoping they provide the needed resources,” Drevecky said.
Christian-based methods
For the center that the religious organizations are starting, the difference between it and Watertown’s current family planning center will be one of faith.
“The pregnancy center will share our worldview, and any information we provide will come from a Christian perspective. That’s what will make it different,” said Wallenmeyer.
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Christian-inspired pregnancy care will be provided at the center, but anybody in need of services will be welcome, regardless of religious affiliations.
“There will be some people who will come and hear about the different options. They will begin to understand our perspective and worldview, and they may conclude that they disagree,” said Wallenmeyer. “Of course, that is their decision. But it is still good to know that they are being informed and can make up their own minds.”
The Watertown religious groups responsible for making the pregnancy center possible are looking for donations and volunteer support to help make it possible. Donations can be made to the Midwest Bible Camp.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Area churches to open faith-based pregnancy center to Watertown
