Cobb Pregnancy Services Is Changing Families

is a nonprofit Christian unplanned pregnancy organization, providing assistance to families, single mothers and fathers.

CPS offers the opportunity to earn assistance while learning about parenting, pregnancy, childbirth, relationships and life. Participants can receive help with baby items such as diapers, clothing, blankets, furniture and other supplies, all of which are donated. "We provide assistance as an incentive to take a class," Lori Parker, executive director of CPS, says.

CPS focuses on more than just pregnancy. "There's a lot of different issues that go beyond pregnancy," Parker says. "A lot of these women are homeless, or having trouble finding a job, or have an addiction or are in an abusive situation. We provide services to them or refer them to other services, both Christian and non."

Cobb County has the fourth highest rate for residential abortions in the state. "When you're a women with no resources, abortion becomes what seems like the only alternative," Parker says. "We see a lot of women who have the idea that they can't have a baby because of finances etc. What we remind them is that the baby didn't cause the situation; it already existed. The baby just brought it to the forefront, and a lot of times the baby can bring a turn around because the women see the problem and can find a solution."

Parker recalls women on more than one occasion who were contemplating abortion when they came to CPS. Parker worked with them to get to the root of their problems, helping them get back on track and in a place better suited to support a child. "They come in here and say, 'Thank you, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have my family,'" Parkers smiles. "We aren't just changing a person; we are change families."

Part of CPS' goal is to find out what is going on in its clients lives and help solve these problems, set goals and use the gospel to empower them. All of CPS' courses are faith-based.

"We want women to help themselves, to go back to the goals they had and have the sense that they can achieve them." One of CPS' services is its Life Support Group, which offers single women assistance with life goals such as education, careers, relationships and families. CPS helps with financial planning and even works with to get clients back in school. "We want to get them excited about goals and help them find the means of achieving them," Parker says.

CPS also provides counseling on sexual relationships. "We offer relationship courses, and whether parents are together or not they are in a relationship," Parker says. "A lot of the couples we see come in and tell us they aren't married because they are not ready for commitment. We help them see where the relationship is going, and a lot of times we see a severing of relationships as a result rather than marriage, and that's okay."

Whether married or not, dating or not, Parker stresses that parents need to learn how to work together and manage a relationship with one another.

"We've seen a change in attitude of women over who has responsibility over a pregnancy over the past few years," Parker adds. "Women feel like they are the ones responsible and are not seeking the same kind of support they once did. The idea of support has changed from child support to occasionally providing a few diapers."

CPS encourages women to not only believe in themselves but in the power of the Spirit, the Lord and the strength and balance practicing Christian values can provide. "We tell people that we are a Christian organization right off the bat," Parker says.

It comes as no surprise that CPS promotes abstinence and does not get into birth control. "There are a lot of ways sex outside of marriage destroys self-esteem," Parker notes. "Women forget how valuable they are, and sex becomes a way of showing affection. It can lead to a destructive cycle."

Parker adds that we have a culture that encourages sex without marriage; however, single mothers are frowned on.

"We know not everyone is pro-life and not everyone believes in Christ," Parker says. "A lot of people that don't support pro-life come here. Some women who volunteer here have had abortions. We're not here to be judgmental. We make our clients aware of God's message and that each child is a gift, which is something a lot of women don't realize."

There are around 2,800 abortions a year in Cobb County. Last year CPS saw 330 women who said they were going to have abortions; 2,200 women were abortion vulnerable, meaning they lacked support or were in a "temporary crisis situation." However, 84% of the women that CPS saw last year, and documented, chose life. "The women who come in abortion-minded go through our classes and they see that their situation does not have to be hopeless. We can find ways to help."

One out of four women have had an abortion in Cobb County, and CPS supports these women as well. "A lot of women are wounded as a result of an abortion," Parker says. "They think they can't go there and they kind of just shelf it, not really dealing with it."

CPS helps women explore the emotional effects of abortion and guides women through a healing process and to closure.

"Women, Christians and non, come together with one common bond—to heal," Parker says. "Many women who go through the healing process become very pro-life because they recognize how the abortion hurt her."

Parker admits that working at CPS is a tiring job. She has been with the organization since 1995 and started acting as director in 1997.

"It's worth it," she says. "Being able to see someone get that just because we have the right to choose doesn't mean all choices are right, to spread the gospel and see it empower people beyond themselves, to impact children who have not been born. It's amazing."

CPS also presents abstinence classes at middle schools and high schools. CPS has a Hispanic ministry to serve those women who have come to this country, either legally or illegally, and are facing an unplanned pregnancy.

CPS provides over 5,600 services a year including:

• Free doctor-verified pregnancy testing
• Free limited ultrasounds to confirm viability, intrauterine pregnancy and gestational age based on fetal measurements
• Prenatal vitamins
• Pregnancy options
• Medicaid information
• Physician and clinic referrals
• Sensitive and confidential counseling
• Sexuality and relationship counseling
• Abortion information
• Adoption referrals
• Literature and videos
• Housing referrals
• Pregnancy and fetal development
• Prenatal and parenting classes
• Baby clothes (newborn to 2T), supplies and furniture

Classes (FREE):

• The Prenatal/Parenting Class: Six weeks, two hours a week. This class provides prenatal and newborn care lessons. For completion, participants receive pre-birth assistance and assistance with baby items twice a month for three months.
• The Parenting II Class: Seven weeks two hours a week. This class prepares mothers of infants and young children on safety, child development, child learning, discipline, health issues and setting boundaries. Participants are awarded assistance twice a month for three months.
• Moving Forward (Relationship Growth): Four weeks, two hours a week. This class helps unmarried couples move forward and grow in their relationship.
• Post Abortion Support Group: Twelve weeks, two hours a week. This class deals with the emotional effects of abortion. Participants are provided  assistance twice a month for six months.
• Life Support Group: Seven weeks, two hours a week. This class offers single women assistance with life goals such as education, careers, relationships and families. Assistance is provided twice a month for three months.
• Ladies Bible Study: Six weeks, two hours a week. This class helps women grow in their faith by studying the bible and applying biblical principles to life. Assistance is provided twice a month for three months.

Location: 47 Gramling St. Marietta

Hours:

• Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phone: 770-590-9361