Pregnancy should be a time of joy and excitement for the future. However, not every woman who becomes pregnant is ready or able to parent. Catholic Charities’ Joining Hearts program understands this and compassionately walks alongside women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy.
Joining Hearts Supports Women
Joining Hearts’ pregnancy specialists are available 24/7 to help women and couples discover life-affirming birth options for their pregnancies. All services are free, and clients receive lifelong support regardless of whether they choose to parent or place their child for adoption.
The Joining Hearts program believes in empowering women to make informed decisions about their pregnancies. Staff educate clients about parenting, adoption, adoption law, and birth parent rights and help them make a plan that feels right to them.
Finding Help for an Unexpected Pregnancy
For Rachel, a 20-year-old experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, working with Joining Hearts made all the difference. She was six months pregnant and in a relationship with her long-term boyfriend and father of her child, James. The two of them had a good relationship but were struggling financially.
Neither Rachel nor James felt ready to parent, so they discussed the idea of adoption as a possibility. Rachel didn’t know much about adoption and took to the internet to research their options.
Rachel found a website for an adoption agency that seemed to be a perfect fit and called them. However, she soon realized it was located out of state. She decided to move forward, but quickly realized she wasn’t receiving the personalized services and counseling she desired.
Making the Best Plan for Mom and Baby
Luckily, Rachel had a good friend who was familiar with the Joining Hearts program and encouraged her to call. After speaking with a pregnancy specialist, she immediately felt comfortable and heard.
She was thrilled that the services were local and that she’d be assigned a pregnancy specialist whom she could meet with in person. In working with her specialist, she decided that a more open adoption would be the best fit for her child, her partner, and herself.
With counseling and guidance from her specialist, Rachel was able to make an adoption plan she felt proud of. She is grateful to Joining Hearts for being there throughout every step of her journey.
Contact Joining Hearts
Are you experiencing an unexpected pregnancy? If so, we understand how overwhelming it can be. You can text or call 888-818-4445 to receive immediate support from Joining Hearts.
