PREGNANCY SUPPORT SERVICES OF ASIA
(Heartbeat International Philippines Center, Inc.)
WHY Pregnancy Support Services of Asia?
Pregnancy, ideally, is a time of joy. However, there are circumstances in which a woman views a pregnancy as a crisis because of the timing or because of physical, emotional, economic, and social factors.
The woman in a crisis pregnancy needs a caring friend to tell her about the many helpful services available during and after her pregnancy. We firmly believe that the main reason why women seek abortion is that alternatives are not being presented to them. The PREGNANCY SUPPORT SERVICES OF ASIA (PSSA) offers confidential guidance and compassionate support to women who are experiencing such crises. Without the help of a LOVE APPROACH, she may think that abortion is the safe, easy solution, not realizing the possible physical and mental risks the procedure brings.
Fear of judgment and rejection may make a woman hesitant to inform those closest to her of her pregnancy. She feels deserted, as if she were facing childbirth alone. Added to this are the physical difficulties of pregnancy, such as morning sickness and periods of depression.
PSSA wants to be a caring friend, ready to listen and help.
WHOM do we help?
The PSSA serves the entire community, any woman regardless of age, race, creed, or marital status. Our services are also available to her family and the father of the baby.
What SERVICES are available?
Ø Counseling and friendship
Ø Pregnancy test
Ø Education on pregnancy, childbirth, prenatal and baby care
Ø Education on abortion and alternatives
Ø Information on breast feeding
Ø Referrals for adoption and foster care
Ø Referrals for medical care, legal assistance, continuing education, and social services.
Ø Post abortion support group
Ø Abstinence program / Natural Family Planning
Ø Christian parenting classes
Ø Help dealing with parents, boyfriends, and husbands.
WHAT do we need?
PSSA COUNSELORS are indispensable. With the PSSA trained staff, they play a vital role in the ministry to women in crisis. They are volunteers who can be:
Ø telephone counselors
Ø medical care givers
Ø housekeeping and maintenance
Ø baby-sitters
PRAYERS: Heartbeat PSSA can exist with the help of the prayers of God’s people. The Heartbeat PSSA needs prayers for its work and for women in crisis so that it may be effective.
FUNDS: To enable Heartbeat PSSA to provide free services to needy women, we depend on the financial support of caring people.
SPECIFIC ITEMS: In addition to monetary support, Heartbeat PSSA needs numerous specific items like clothing and furnishings for mother and baby.
HOW do we do it?
Usually, clients come in through referrals of PSSA volunteers, PSSA members who have heard about PSSA services or through phone-in counseling (they have seen our “PREGNANT? WE CARE.” Stickers)
An initial interview is done by the counselor, followed by an assessment of needs by the Heartbeat PSSA Volunteer. Here, we come to know the specific needs of clients. Some clients need only a friend to journey with them in their crisis but have homes to go to. However, others seek a place where they can run to at this confusing time.
If after the assessment of the PSSA volunteer, the client does not need temporary shelter, she is assigned a PSSA Counselor, whose task is to assist the pregnant woman, journey with her and be her prayer warrior. If there is a need to shelter, the client is now given her orientation and is asked to fill-in official agreement forms. After accomplishing the form, she is now taken in.
Unlike other similar projects, we accept women regardless of the stage of pregnancy they are in, because we want to save the life of the baby. The first trimester is critical and pregnant women in crisis on this stage are the ones who need our support most.
What led us to choose this ministry?
In the Gospel of Luke, the Angel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin Mary the good news that a child would be born and that she was to be the Mother of our Savior. When she asked, “How can this be?” the Angel told her not to be afraid for “nothing is impossible with God.” The PSSA carries the same comforting message from our Mother Church to frightened young mothers:
Fear not, for God is with you!
Nothing is impossible with God.
