Providing help for prospective parents

BARRHEAD – The Barrhead Pregnancy Centre (BPC) is open for business, so to speak.

Although the organization closed its doors to the public more than a month ago due to the coronavirus outbreak that hasn't stopped them from serving their clients.

The BPC is a not-for-profit organization that provides counselling as well as other services to mothers and fathers dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.

The centre is a branch of the Christian-based Edmonton Pregnancy Care Centre (EPCC), which has been in operation for 36 years. The Barrhead branch has been open for a little more than two years.

BPC executive director Kim Webster noted the BPC closed its door to the public on March 17.

She said that it was a little bit earlier than they had hoped but due to circumstances. Initially Webster, due to cold symptoms, had to self-isolate and her backup who would have filled in for her was in self-isolation after having recently travelled internationally.

When that period was up, Webster said they decided to keep the doors closed and operate remotely working from their homes as many of the centre's staff and volunteers have children to care for now that schools and daycares are closed.

"It is also to protect our clients because we don't know how COVID-19 can affect pregnant women and the developing baby," she said.

This follows the trend of other pregnancy care centres nationwide who have also made the transition to providing the bulk of their services remotely.

And so far, Webster said while it has required some adjustments workers, volunteers as well as their clients they have been able to continue to provide their full slate of services.

For the most part, BPC provides support through counselling, which is done by trained peer counsellors.

"A lot of it we still do by telephone," she said, however whenever possible peer-counsellors try to communicate with their clients via video conferencing. "It's nice to be able to see someone face-to-face, see their expressions and body language."

Among the counselling services BPC provides is a program going through the options prospective parents have such as keeping and raising the baby, putting it up for adoption or abortion.

The BPC also offers counselling programs for those who are having difficulty after having an abortion as well as sexual abuse victims.

Given the sensitive nature of their counselling programs, peer-support counsellors have set up their home workspaces in a way to ensure confidentiality.

In addition to the BPC's counselling efforts, they also offer a 12-week course to prospective parents covering everything from what a mother can expect during labour to general life and parenting skills. The course is also available online.

Webster added the only services BPC provides that cannot be done remotely is the supplying of free pregnancy test kits and maternity and children's clothing as well as other child-rearing items.

But even in these cases, she said arrangements can be made for pick up or delivery.

Webster said perhaps the more challenging issue of its operation is letting people know that the BPC exists.

"A lot of people learn about us through referrals, whether it be from doctors, schools or public health [Alberta Health Services] and we are finding people are not going to these places as much anymore," she said.

As a result, BPC is using social media, more specifically Facebook and Instagram to help get the word out.

And so far it seems to be working, as the centre is being contacted by prospective clients from the region and beyond Webster said, noting as the only other organization providing similar services to the BPC is their parent organization in Edmonton their reach goes a long way.

"One of our commitments to our clients is that they are never alone," Webster said. "Social media and technology have made it that much easier to keep our commitment."

BPC office hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information about the centre go to their website (www.pregnancycarecentre.ca) or call 780-282-0161 or 587-874-0155. Texting is available at the latter phone number.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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