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Center gives support in unexpected pregnancies
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Toni Clark of Youngstown, a client at Pregnancy Help Center in Boardman works on a project during a parenting class.
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Sally Dubinsky, Exec. Director of Pregnancy Help Center
The facility offers facts, support and preparation for expecting mothers.
By KATIE SEMINARA
YOUNGSTOWN — Joy Maiorana, 25, of Girard is pregnant with twins.
Upon hearing the news, Maiorana said, she had no idea how to handle her situation, but she found help.
Now four months into her pregnancy, she goes to the Pregnancy Help Center on Market Street.
Maiorana and four other young women were at the center for a parenting class recently.
“I like that everyone who works here is really supportive,” Maiorana said.
“They are open and willing if you need to talk,” she said.
More than 18,000 women have benefited from services offered by the center, which has been in operation for 21 years.
“We are only here to give them the truth about their situation,” said Sally Dubinsky, executive director.
“It’s their right to be informed,” she said.
The center is a nonprofit organization and receives no federal funding. It offers parenting classes, Bible study, free pregnancy testing, limited prenatal care and a baby boutique.
The agency started as a one-room operation and moved to the current location less than a year ago. At the end of September the center had a grand reopening after six months of renovations.
Clients are not forced to do anything, but are encouraged to be open about their situation, said Dubinsky.
“We say, ‘This is what we have for you; choose what you’d like.’”
“We know it’s their choice. We can’t make it for them,” said Dubinsky of whether the women ultimately choose to carry the child, put the child up for adoption or have an abortion.
Women of all ages and statuses are welcome to use the center’s services, but Dubinsky said the target age group is 18 to 24.
The parenting class was being taught by Cheryl Cole, one of the center’s volunteers, who said the women wanted to do a craft they could use as a Christmas gift.
Classes generally teach new mothers and fathers about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, parenting during the early years, breastfeeding and CPR certification. Sometimes the center brings in guest speakers and other agencies that provide related services.
“Kids don’t come with an instruction manual when they come out,” said Dubinsky, noting that most classes are geared toward beginning stages of parenting.
Maiorana carries her folder of information with her each time she goes to the center.
“I don’t think any of my doctors have been this informative to date,” she said.
Mother-to-be Amanda Marsh, 22, of Boardman, went to the parenting class for the first time Thursday.
“It’s going to be a lot of help,” she said of the parenting class and also the baby boutique.
Marsh’s boyfriend has two jobs and she has one. When the baby is born, the extra assistance from the boutique will be beneficial, she said.
The boutique offers all the essential baby needs, and clients use points to purchase items, not money.
Clients earn points by attending classes, keeping appointments made with the center, having a session with center personnel, watching educational videos, going to school or work, and other related activities.
“I come here for diapers every week,” said Renee Sass, 21, of Boardman, who told Marsh about the center.
“The store is really nice. I got outfits for both my daughters,” said Sass, adding that the boutique has toys, too.
Other than the classes, boutique and medical appointments, the center also offers a 13-week post-abortion recovery workshop.
Though the center doesn’t provide abortion procedures, Dubinsky said if a client chooses to have an abortion, the center will still be there.
The center would like to expand its medical services to offer sexually transmitted disease testing to their clients.
STD education is available, but the testing is a logical next step, said Dubinsky.
For more information on the center call (330) 788-4000 or visit www.pregnancyhelpcenter.com.
“Our goal is to just love [our clients], love them through their pregnancy,” said Dubinsky, “to let them know there is someone who cares, to help them understand that with unexpected pregnancy there’s hope in life,” she said.