1. Pray for God's wisdom in starting the center. God’s timing will be different for every center. The following information is meant for guidelines only. Every center will be different in some aspect.
2. Talk with the pastor to determine if the church is supportive. Place articles in the church bulletin to find other like-minded church members.
3. Contact Pregnancy Care Ministries at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) for information and materials. Call 1-800-962-0851 or 770-410-6428. After a preliminary conversation, information will be given to the NAMB state trainer nearest the new center, who will then phone the contact person. The state trainer will provide guidance and encouragement throughout the process.
4. Plan a community meeting. Invite friends, area pastors and their church members (all evangelical denominations), and other interested people, such as parents of pre-teens, teenagers, and college-age students. Show an appropriate video on Pregnancy Care Centers (PCC) that NAMB will provide.
5. Form a steering committee of at least five people from those who attend the community meeting. At the first meeting select a chairman, secretary and treasurer. Minutes should be taken at all meetings. Make assignments and set deadlines. Prayer should be the cornerstone of the work of this committee.
6. Conduct a community survey in order to show the need for a center. The NAMB state trainer can provide the committee with a community survey form and websites where some of the information can be obtained:
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Get statistics on abortions, teen pregnancies, and births to single mothers from state/county health departments.
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Survey medical personnel and facilities to estimate how many and what kind of abortions are being performed. This information will help in choosing a location for the PCC.
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Locate other community pro-life efforts and Christian ministries who help pregnant women. This information will indicate if another ministry to pregnant women is needed. Your assigned trainer will assist in this process.
7. If no need is established, the process ends. If a need is established, the steering committee will elect a nominating committee to nominate people to serve on the organizing board of directors. The nominating committee’s report will be presented to the steering committee as a recommendation. The entire steering committee will vote to accept or reject the recommendation. All board members must be committed, active, pro-life Christians. They must believe that life begins at conception and must be willing to be involved actively in the PCC ministry. The board will need to elect a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer at the first meeting. Establish committees to address the needs listed in the rest of the guidelines. (i.e. legal, personnel, facility, budget, fundraising, etc.)
8. Choose a name for the center. The state trainer will be helpful in suggesting an appropriate name.
9. Incorporate. A lawyer should oversee this process. The reasons for incorporating are listed below:
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Establishes the PCC as a nonprofit organization.
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Enables the PCC to apply to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status under Article 501(c)(3). Tax exempt status means the PCC does not pay taxes on contributions, and gifts from donors are tax deductible. It is very important to have this designation in order to raise the funds needed to support the center.
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Limits legal liability of the board of directors in case of a lawsuit against the center.
10. Raise funds needed to hire a director to carry out policies of the organizing board. Your state trainer will assist you in selecting appropriate fundraisers for your center.
11. Hire a director. The director is the key to the day-to-day ministry of THE center. The director should have input regarding major decisions.
12. The board, with the involvement of the director, writes the Mission Statement, By-Laws, and adopts a Conflict of Interest policy.
13. Choose a facility and establish a physical address. Consider the following needs:
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What location would most likely attract the center’s target group?
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Is facility accessible to mass transportation, if available in the area?
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Is the location visible and easy to find, yet still protects the privacy of the clients?
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Is there adequate space? At a minimum, the facility should have an inviting reception office as well as a clean and safe children's play area, a private office, two counseling rooms, private bathroom and a separate pregnancy testing area with a bathroom, a large equipped training room, and a storage room for supplies such as diapers, formula, food, clothes, baby furniture and toys.
14. Complete the application for the 501(c)(3) and submit to the Internal Revenue Service. Lawyer should review the application before submission to the IRS.
15. Complete the NAMB affiliation application and mail to Pregnancy Care Ministries at NAMB. Upon confirmation of NAMB affiliation, the NAMB trainer working with the center will schedule the initial volunteer and board training. The training should be schedule eight to ten weeks in advance.
16. If the center plans to advertise in the Yellow Pages, inquire early in the planning about the deadline for such a service. Consider placing an ad even though the opening is in the near future. Also, consider plans to develop a website.
17. Establish a listing of client resources:
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Pro-life medical referrals, such as obstetricians and family practitioners that will accept Medicaid.
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Public assistance from health department and DFACS ( i.e. Medicaid)
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Clinics and hospitals with free or reduced rates
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Children's services (i.e. Peach Care, childcare programs, etc.)
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Area programs for single mothers (i.e. Career Development programs, educational programs)
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Shelter (i.e. maternity homes, emergency shelters, public or private housing)
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Childbirth classes
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Adoption agencies
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STD testing and treatment, drug and alcohol treatment centers, psychiatric services
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Christian counseling centers
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Legal assistance
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Food and clothing resources
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Emergency hotlines (i.e. rape, domestic violence, etc.)
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Other pregnancy care centers in the area
18. Determine operational needs. These may include, but are not limited to:
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Furniture for counseling rooms chosen by the PCC and donated by people in the community. It is as easy to decorate tastefully as to "make do". Rooms should be comfortable and inviting. Each counseling room should contain a TV and VCR. It should contain a love seat, chair, and corner table with a lamp or three captain's chairs and a corner table with a lamp.
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A sofa table or desk (no side drawers) for the receptionist and four matching chairs for clients in the reception room.
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Telephones (two lines; one hotline, the other for the administrative use only
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Telephone answering machine
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Office equipment such as desks, tables, copier, file cabinets, and computers
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Registration, scheduling, and other record keeping forms
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Educational materials to be used with clients (list of suggested materials available from state trainer)
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Tasteful, appropriate decorations; no specific religious pictures or pictures of babies (keep it neutral) in the reception area
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Wholesome magazines
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Pregnancy tests, cups, and disposable rubber gloves
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Safe and clean toys for children's play area.
19. Make final plans for public relations:
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State Baptist paper
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Bulletin inserts for local churches
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Church Presentations
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Christian radio
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Donor website
20. Make final plans for client marketing:
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Yellow Pages and white pages of the telephone book
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Client Website
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School newspapers
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Billboards
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Advertising posters
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Referrals from the health department and DFACS
21. Recruit volunteers. In order for a state trainer to lead a volunteer and board training at no cost to the center (except lodging for trainer), a list of center board members and at least 20 volunteer attendees must be submitted to NAMB prior to the training. Request each area pastor to ask two to four mature, Christian women to consider volunteering as counselors. Advertise for volunteers in area church newsletters, bulletins, and/or a state Baptist paper. Contact Women’s Ministries of the churches in the center’s marketing area. The director should interview all volunteers after completion of the training.
22. Follow the NAMB training with two weeks of center in-house training.
23. Arrange an open house and announce it in the state Baptist paper, local newspapers, radio stations, and church newsletters and/or bulletins.
24. Open for ministry the day after the open house.
