Pregnancy Resource Clinic celebrates grand opening at new location

The Pregnancy Resource Clinic of Clark County has been located in Springfield for 29 years, but the grand opening of its new location will take place on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at 1010 S. Limestone St.

In the heart of the city, the Pregnancy Resource Clinic continues to offer confidential care, support and services to all at no charge.

“We are so excited to be at this new location,” says Executive Director Ellen Dudney. “It offers opportunities for more services to our community.”

The PRC provides free medical services, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and nurse consultations. Staff and volunteers also offer support for women after abortion and miscarriage.

Through “Earn While You Learn” classes, mothers and fathers can sharpen parenting skills while earning “Baby Bucks” for the purchase of new items for newborns and baby’s first year.

Education is another part of the PRC’s programming before and during pregnancy. Clients are offered information on their options for abortion, adoption and parenting. The PRC supplies information and education on reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.

In addition to these services, Dudney notes that the PRC is “looking at expanding services to fathers, offering additional medical services and reaching out to the Hispanic community.”

A bilingual member of Springfield’s Hispanic community already volunteers at PRC and is available to provide Spanish translation during evening hours.

The center provides vital services to Springfield and Clark County where 32.4 percent of pregnant women aren’t receiving prenatal care and 30 percent of children are living in poverty. During 2015, the PRC provided 516 pregnancy test visits and performed 292 ultrasounds.

Staff and volunteers supported new parents in the Springfield community through 577 visits for supplies. In that one year, clients came to the PRC a total of 1,695 times.

The Pregnancy Resource Clinic is well-integrated with related organizations in the community, such as the Marriage Resource Center, Rocking Horse Center, and all obstetrics and gynecology offices in the city.

The clinic reaches out to schools by connecting with school nurses and counselors to provide information about services to which they might refer students. In 2014, the teen birth rate was 19.5 out of 1,000 females, ages 15 to 17 in Clark County, above the state rate of 12.8.

The PRC participates in the Healthy Births and Teen Sexuality Task Force to address the issue of teen pregnancy in hopes of reducing that risk.

For PRC services, appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments may be scheduled and more information is available at 937-525-3780 and www.yourpregnancyresource.org.

For a look at the Pregnancy Resource Clinic’s new facility at 1010 S. Limestone St., all are invited to the grand opening, on Sunday for tours, food and fun for all.

Community members are invited to submit a Community Commentary column for publication. Columns should be approximately 500 words in length and will be edited for publication. The Springfield News-Sun will make the final decision on whether they will be published. Any column submissions should be emailed to Editor Samantha Sommer at samantha.sommer@coxinc.com. For more info, call 937-328-0346.

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