Care Net Pregnancy Center is already busy promoting their fundraising banquet, and it’s not until March 12th. In celebrating their 10th anniversary by bringing in nationally renowned speaker and journalist Cal Thomas (USA Today, CNBC, NBC, Fox News), Executive Director Donna Flaspoehler says organizers are expecting a crowd of 600 at this year’s banquet.
As their ten-year anniversary approaches, there are other reasons to celebrate too. Thanks to a grant from the Horn Family Foundation, Care Net is expanding their facility by moving their administrative offices upstairs. “In the past 10 years, we have grown quite a bit, and we are still growing,” Flaspoehler said. “Next we want to focus more on our social media presence to be where the clients are.” Care Net recently launched their new web site, www.careneto.com; their new app, CareNetO is available free from the app store.
Care Net Owensboro is one of 1,100 Care Net facilities nationwide. “We are a nonprofit pregnancy resource center, but we are also a medical health clinic that is licensed by the state of Kentucky,” explained RN Mandy Cecil, who worked in labor and delivery before joining the staff at Care Net. Nurse Manager Vicky Cummins, RN, IBCLC, brings many years of women’s health nursing experience to the team at Care Net as well. In addition to the staff nurses, Dr. Lauren Bickel, a Family Practitioner, and Dr. Charles Bea, head of Radiology at Owensboro Health, both volunteer their services at Care Net.
Care Net exists to extend Christian compassion and truth by promoting the sanctity of human life and sexual purity. If a woman thinks she’s pregnant, the first step Care Net takes is offering a free pregnancy test. If it’s positive, they also offer a free ultrasound to check the viability of the pregnancy. From there, Care Net will help the expectant mother get insurance through Kentucky Kynect and refer them to a doctor. “We help them all along the way with whatever they need,” Cecil continued, “whether it’s counsel regarding pregnancy options, prenatal vitamins, prenatal education, or referring them to the HANDS and WIC programs available through the Health Department.”
Care Net offers prenatal, childbirth, and breastfeeding classes for expectant mothers. For every session or class parents attend, they earn points that can be redeemed in the “Bonkers for Babies” store, which began through an Owensboro Health grant several years ago. “Our baby boutique is very cute,” Cecil said, smiling. “We have baby clothes, toiletries, diapers, everything they might need.” It is a cheerful, fun place for the moms to shop.
Flaspoehler says Care Net’s goal is to help clients through the pregnancy and beyond. That’s why expanding the facility is so important. “But we also want to meet their spiritual need,” Cecil added, “so we talk a lot about what the Bible says, and we pray every session.”
From my view, care is first and foremost not only in their name, but in everything Care Net does. It radiates from the attitude of the staff, the welcoming environment, and concern for everyone who walks through the door. If it’s true that it takes a village to raise a child, then Care Net’s role is bridging the gap between the physical needs, medical needs, and spiritual support for mommy, daddy, and the precious child inside.
For more information or to request a ticket for the banquet, please call 270-685-5077.
