An unplanned pregnancy can leave someone reeling and unsure where to turn.
That's where the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre (CAPCC) comes in.
The CAPCC has offices in Rocky Mountain House, Red Deer and, as of May 2022, Stettler.
According to Leah Carpenter, the director of the Stettler Centre, in its two-and-a-half years of operation, the Stettler Centre has helped around 25 expectant mothers-to-be per year.
"It's nice that people are coming for help and getting the help they need," said Carpenter.
To date, in 2024, the centre has aided 20, which will likely end up at 25 by the end of the year.
The Stettler Centre typically runs with four regular volunteers, though more jump in occasionally as well.
According to Carpenter, if someone needs support they can stop by the centre on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, volunteers can help with programs, pregnancy tests, or anything else that is needed.
"The biggest one that we're offering to clients right now, or the biggest one their clients are utilizing, is our parenting education program," said Carpenter. "We do this through videos or books or different exercises, but that's the biggest one that our clients have used. And then the second most, utilized one is pregnancy and birth, using those same kind of curricula and same kind of materials."
Another service offered by the centre is peer support groups for survivors of past sexual abuse or trauma, or for pregnancy-related grief support.
"In particular, we have a post-abortion recovery education that our clients have utilized," said Carpenter.
If a pregnant mom-to-be comes into the centre, a volunteer or staff member can go over all options available to the newly expectant parent, including keeping the child, adoption, or abortion, though the centre is not a medical or referral centre.
"We definitely don't refer for arranged abortions," said Carpenter, noting that the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre is a faith-based organization. "We would just provide the accurate information to clients seeking any kind of options or support so that they can be well informed."
While pregnancy is primarily looked at as a female issue, the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre doesn't forget the new dads who are likely to be as shaken by the life-changing event as a new mom-to-be.
All the centres, including Stettler, have male mentors who work with men who are going to be dads, and some of the programs offered by the centre are geared toward men as well.
"They can have the same full support that women have from a male mentor," said Carpenter.
Expectant moms utilizing the services of the pregnancy care centre also have access to the maternity clothing boutique, where those in need can get maternity or baby clothes or other needed sundries.
A final service offered by the centre includes a maternity home in Red Deer, which all clients from across the region have access to.
The maternity home is for expectant women who are trying to get out of an abusive relationship or otherwise need a roof over their head while they wait to have their baby. A new mom in the first part of this program can live in the maternity home until the baby reaches six months old, then if still in need, the mom and baby can shift to another program and remain at the facility until the baby reaches two years old.
All services supplied by the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre are offered free of charge and are confidential.
Funds are raised through a variety of fundraising campaigns including a spring gala and a comedy night in Stettler, and other donations and smaller initiatives throughout the year.
Those wishing to make a donation to the central can donate online at pregnancycare.ca or by calling 1-587-627-1111 to arrange a drop-off during open hours.
The Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre also has a 24-hour helpline at 1-844-343-1611.
