Beginning July 1
Duration: 6 Weeks | 6 Modules + LIVES on Fridays*
Hosted by: The Maternity Housing Coalition
About This Course
Are you thinking about starting a maternity home but aren’t sure where to begin? Blueprint for Starting Your Maternity Home is a comprehensive 6-week course designed specifically for pregnancy help organizations ready to take the next step in serving women facing unplanned pregnancies.
This foundational course walks you through the critical components needed to launch a successful and sustainable maternity home. Through six focused modules, you’ll gain the tools, strategies, and confidence to move from vision to action.
What You’ll Learn
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Week 1: Starting Point
Clarify your "why," explore different maternity home models, and assess your readiness for this important work. -
Week 2: Board Model & Responsibilities
Learn how to structure a strong, mission-driven board and define its essential roles in governance and support. -
Week 3: Structuring the Home
Conduct a needs assessment, craft a compelling mission statement, and begin developing a framework that reflects your community and values. -
Week 4: Building & Maintaining a Team
Discover how to recruit, train, and sustain a healthy and effective team of staff and volunteers. -
Week 5: Property Considerations
Understand zoning laws, location requirements, safety standards, and other key factors when choosing and preparing your property. -
Week 6: Resident Care
Learn best practices for supporting residents through case management, program development, house guidelines, and holistic care.
*Plus, join us live each Friday for a discussion of that week's topic and a Q&A. This is the perfect time for participants to ask questions and join an open forum with other start-ups.
Whether you’re in the early stages of praying for this mission or already gathering a team, this course equips you with the practical knowledge and strategic insight to launch a maternity home that makes a lasting impact.
Are you connected to your state coalition?
Check out your state coalition - each one a vital hub of support, collaboration, and advocacy for life-affirming work in their region. They are here to serve, equip, and walk alongside pregnancy help organizations just like yours. We encourage you to reach out, connect, and partner with your state coalition to strengthen your mission and expand your impact!
For updates or revisions, please contact the Director of Affiliate Services, Kathy Jerman, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Alabama
Alabama Pregnancy Center Alliance
Bethany Garth
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
334-260-8010
Alaska
Alaska Pregnancy Center Coalition
Colleen Ward
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(907) 252-1689
Arizona
Arizona Life Coalition
https://www.chooselifeaz.org/
Garrett Riley
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
602-315-6523
Arkansas
Arkansas Pregnancy Network
https://arkansaspregnancynetwork.com/
Christie Robertson
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
California
California Alliance for Pregnancy Care
https://calalliance.org/
Allison Martinez
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Colorado
Colorado Pregnancy Care Alliance
https://co-pca.org
Rich Bennett
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Connecticut
Connecticut Pregnancy Care Coalition
https://www.cpccoalition.org/
Lisa Maloney
info@carenetsect.org
860-448-2990
Delaware
Delaware Association of Pregnancy Centers
Rachel Metzger
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Florida
Pregnancy and Family Resources Alliance (PAFRA)
https://pafraflorida.org/
Ruth Rodrigues
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
239-848-8919
Florida Pregnancy Care Network
https://floridapregnancysupport.com/
Rita Gigliano
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
850-656-6245
One More Child-- Florida Association of Life Centers/Clinics (FALC)
https://onemorechild.org/
Mary Lou Hendrey
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
863.687.8811, Ext. 2223
Georgia
Life Resources of Georgia, Inc.
https://www.liferesourcesga.com/
Christina Middleton
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
478-246-4427
Hawaii
**No organized coalition
Stacey Jiminez
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Idaho
Idaho Coalition for Life
Heather Lawless
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
208-790-5020
Illinois
Vision for Life
https://www.vision2020il.org/
Carol Fouse
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
214-420-4310
Indiana
**No organized coalition
Michelle Schoenefeld - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rebecca Bailey - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Iowa
Iowa Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders & Iowa Pro-Life Fellowship
https://iowaprolifeleaders.com/
Maggie DeWitte
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
515-201-8281
Kansas
Life Alliance Kansas
https://lifeallianceks.org/
Melanie Bowman
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
913-538-7113
Kentucky
Kentucky Association of Pregnancy Care Agencies - KAPCA
Pamela Held
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
606-678-0335
Louisiana
Louisiana Pregnancy Center Coalition
lifechoicesncla.org
Kathleen Richard
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
318-255-7377
Maine
Maine Right to Life
www.mainerighttolife.org
Mike McClellan
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
207-782-0101
Maryland
Maryland Coalition of Medical Pregnancy Clinics
Pamela Palumbo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
410-431-5000
Massachusetts
Pregnancy Care Alliance of Massachusetts
https://pregnancycarealliance.com
Myrna Maloney Flynn
617-242-4199
Michigan
Michigan Coalition for Pregnancy Wellness
https://micoalition.org
Carolyn Doyle
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(616) 257-6802
Pregnancy Centers of Southeast Michigan
Sue Nellis
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Minnesota
**Newly formed coalition
Tammy Kocher - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kim Bennecke - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elevate Life - Minnesota
Anna Schmidt
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
651-291-9473
Mississippi
Mississippi Pregnancy Resource Alliance
Karen Sims
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Missouri
Alliance for Life
https://allianceforlifemissouri.com/
Marsha Middleton
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
816-806-4168
Montana
Tracey Ullrey
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
406-422-1011
Nebraska
Nebraska Pregnancy Care Alliance
https://nebraskapregnancycarealliance.org/
Jennifer Gutierrez
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
402-499-2401
New Hampshire
**No organized coalition
Mike Younus
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Pregnancy Centers
https://njapc.org/
Rita Reyes - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aimee Huber - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New Mexico
New Mexico State Collaborative
Paula Gonzales
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New York
The New York State Coalition for Life
https://www.nyscoalitionforlife.com/
Kathy Jerman
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
North Carolina
LifeLink Carolina
https://lifelinkcarolina.org/
Bobbie Meyer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
704-281-8631
North Dakota
North Dakota Pregnancy Resource Network
Jill Chandler
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
218-779-3658
Ohio
Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers
Savannah Marten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
419-531-6842
Oklahoma
Pregnancy Resource Network of Oklahoma
https://pregnancynet.org/
Gayla White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
405-697-2711
Oregon
Oregon Pregnancy Center Association
https://www.myopca.org/
Robin Fuller
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
541-659-5406
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative (PPWC)
papregnancy.com
Sarah M. Bowen
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
724-794-3325 ext 1401
Pennsylvania Life Exchange
https://www.palifeexchange.com/
Debbie Davenport
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
717-274-5128 x312
South Carolina
South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers
https://scapcc.com/
Linda Plummer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
854-855-0581
South Dakota
**Informal coalition
Erica Miller
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
605-361-3500
Tennessee
TN Pregnancy Center Network
Laura Messick
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
615-893-0228
Texas
Life Ambassadors of Texas
https://lifeambassadorsoftexas.com/
Threesa Sadler
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
903-456-4317
Utah
Utah Pregnancy Care Alliance
Evangeline Sanders
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
801-895-2105
Vermont
**No organized coalition
Mike Younus
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Virginia
Virginia Coalition of Pregnancy Centers
https://vacoalitionpc.org/
Ryan Holloway
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
757-812-5117
West Virginia
West Virginia Pregnancy Center Coalition
https://www.wvmothersandbabies.org/
Jenny Entsminger
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
304-885-1944
Wisconsin
Connect Life Wisconsin
https://connectlifewi.org/
Justin Novitski
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
715-301-0811
Wyoming
**No organized coalition
Jessica Baxter
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Public Impact
Heartbeat International proactively engages the community and shares the good work of the pregnancy help movement with both the media and government officials. Through proper education of all the services our pregnancy help network provides in communities, we encourage hopeful messages of LIFE throughout the world. Our Babies Go to Congress event takes moms and babies to their government officials to show them the value of the pregnancy help organizations. We do this to encourage a positive relationship among our elected officials.
While we do what we can to be proactive, Heartbeat is prepared to help defend organizations against attacks from the opposition. Our pregnancy help network agrees to the standards of our Commitment of Care and Competence. If you ever feel that you or your center is under attack, please contact us.
We suggest our affiliates work with their local media so they can better work with centers in the community. Heartbeat provides a Pregnancy Help Center Defense Toolkit (Affiliates Only) to equip our centers with the tools they need to work with the media. Education is the best tool we have against any negative claims that may arise.
In the news
Heartbeat International is on Capitol Hill for the Intoduction of the Heartbeat Bill. Learn more
Federal court rules: preborn baby is a person. Read more.
San Francisco Under Attack. Read more.
RIP – Another hostile state bill dies in committee. Read more.
NYC anti-pregnancy center vote passed 35-9, with one abstaining. Read more.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland rules pregnancy center ordinance unconstitutional.
A Local Launch of "A Passion to Serve, a Vision for Life"
Pregnancy Center Report Spotlights the Contribution of Heartbeat Affiliates
Even though little Emma Grace was conceived by teens – regularly a death sentence under the rule of Roe v. Wade – her parents, with the help of the Pregnancy Care Center, welcomed her, with all her inherent value, into their newly formed family. Ahna and Garrett Roney were seventeen and eighteen when they chose to marry and to make a family with the infant they welcomed.
The Roney’s story about Heartbeat International’s affiliate in Springfield, MO is a testament to how practical help and emotional support for a young couple can turn a difficult time into a much-welcomed blessing.
This is just one of the examples of the life-saving work of Heartbeat International’s compassionate network of care highlighted in “A Passion to Serve: How Pregnancy Resource Centers Empower Women, Help Families, and Strengthen Communities,” the updated report from Family Research Council (FRC).
This report shines a light on the positive contributions of pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies and pregnancy help medical clinics. These faith-based nonprofits brighten a woman’s future with the support she needs to bring new life into the world.
While tracing the history of concern and care for pregnant women, this report focuses on the positive ways pregnancy support organizations are strengthening their communities. It describes the impact of the pregnancy help movement by detailing, through statistical summaries and case studies, the extraordinary ways centers are meeting the needs of women, youth, and families.
Pregnancy centers served over 2.3 million people with pregnancy assistance, abstinence counseling and education, community outreach programs and referrals, and public health linkages. A conservative estimate of community cost savings for these serves during 2010 is over $100 million, according to the FRC report.
The report also includes endorsements from public figures like this one from U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, (D, IL-3):
“The success rates and national expansion of these pregnancy care centers are a testament to their invaluable work in the lives of communities and individuals over the years. These networks provide services that are often unavailable elsewhere to expectant mothers.”
The pregnancy help network is one of the greatest volunteer service movements in the history of our country with around 71,000 volunteers performing an estimated 5,705,000 uncompensated hours of work in 2010.
Choose Life License Plates
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Submit the Virginia Choose Life Interest |
In 2009 the Virginia Assembly established Choose Life license plates to be issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Heartbeat International agreed to the legislators’ request to serve the Virginia pregnancy help providers as the distributor of the proceeds collected and has continued to distribute the funds each year.
Eligibility is defined by the legislation as:
- Pregnancy center that is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization
- Officially committed to the Commitment of Care and Competence (Current affiliates of a national organization recognizing the Commitment as a condition of affiliation need only indicate affiliation(s). Others need to adopt a board resolution and forward a duly signed copy of the Commitment.)
- Agree to use the funds specifically “to provide services to pregnant women and women who suspect that they may be pregnant in Virginia.”
For organizations that haven't participated but would like to, please complete and sign the attached form and provide the necessary documentation postmarked no later than December 5th. You may also complete this form online at HeartbeatServices.org under the Connections heading select “Choose Life.” Multiple location centers need only complete one form, indicating the primary/main location, but must include all additional location information requested.
We appreciate the work of all pregnancy help efforts in Virginia and are pleased to serve you in this role at our own expense. No Virginia Choose Life monies are retained by Heartbeat International or provided to any organization other than indicated by the legislation. Any monies refused or not distributed will be returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We intend to distribute proportional payments in December
If you have any questions regarding the confirmation of eligibility process please contact the Heartbeat International office at 614.885.7577.
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2009 SESSION contains the criteria for distribution of Choose Life License Plate funds and is viewable in entirety here.
The following extract is from Section 3 Paragraph B:
These funds shall be paid annually to Heartbeat International, Inc., to be distributed in equal grants to pregnancy center locations in Virginia that are tax-exempt organizations under § 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and officially committed to Heartbeat International's "Our Commitment of Care" standards. Choose Life Virginia Fund distributed funds are to be used to provide services to pregnant women and women who suspect that they may be pregnant in Virginia and may be refused within 60 days by return to the Choose Life Virginia Fund.
Click here to submit the Virginia Choose Life Interest and Eligibility Confirmation Form
Click here to check out Choose Life programs in all U.S. states.
Connections
Heartbeat International is connected to multiple resources throughout the world. In this section, you will find additional resources and tools to help strengthen your ministry.
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Vote for Future Generations
Your vote is critical on November 6th. Future lives depend on it. Please take time now to make sure that you are registered to vote.
However, it’s not just your vote that will save future generations. Every vote from the entire pro-life community is needed to stop government sponsored abortion on demand. And the scary part is that if we fail to vote our pro-life values on Election Day, the government may soon make it unlawful to provide alternatives to abortion by directing pregnancy help organizations to provide abortifacients and abortion referrals.
We desperately need your help to Get out the Vote (GOTV)!
Step 1: Reminding U.S. citizens about the sacred duty of voting is the first step to GOTV. Future generations are counting on you to activate your Board members, staff, volunteers, donors, friends, neighbors, churches, and families. It is crucial to encourage each person in your circle of influence to become a registered voter.
Step 2: Educating voters is the second step to GOTV. We need elected officials who are willing to advance solutions instead of abortions. Voter Guides are now available. Voters need your help to understand where each candidate stands on life. It’s time to galvanize everyone in your community to ensure that pregnancy help organizations can continue providing life-saving support.
Forcing pro-life citizens to pay for abortions and to provide abortion-causing drugs goes against our American tradition of religious liberty and destroys our nation’s moral compass.
It was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. president, who said, “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”
U.S. voters know that abortion is defacing America. We all know that aborting a child is not healthcare. America needs people with a passion for life to inspire others to vote for those who share our pro-life values.
You are a vital part of Heartbeat International’s pregnancy help network. Please help voters realize that compassionate help and unconditional love empower mothers to welcome the next generation.
Voting your pro-life values and motivating others to do the same can make abortion unthinkable for future generations.
Votes save lives.
More...
Public Impact
Spreading the good news... Pregnancy help is doing great work
Heartbeat is constantly trying to get the word out about the excellent work of pregnancy help organizations around the world. Whether it's consistently sharing recent news about pregnancy help organizations over at PregnancyHelpNews.com or sharing the real story of pregnancy centers in a world where the media is biased against them at PregnancyCenterTruth.com, we are committed to making sure that the pregnancy help movement has a voice in the public conversation.
Over at Pregnancy Help News, we share daily news, opinion, and commentary related to the pregnancy help movement and it's place in the larger pro-life movement. You can even sign up for a weekly email update of what's going on in the movement to be delivered to your inbox every Monday. Or... share a story about something new or interesting happening at your center. In other words, we want to share what you may need to know and tell your story here!
Pregnancy Center Truth is built to combat the lies told by Big Abortion about the pregnancy help movement. There, anyone can see the reality laid out clearly with studies to back up claims and sharable quick stats built for social media. It's just one way we defend the reputation of pregnancy centers around the world.
Commending the pregnancy help movement... Babies Go to Congress
Every year, Heartbeat International brings moms and their children to Washington, D.C. to remind our congressmen and women that pregnancy help centers are good for America. Babies Go to Congress, held every year close to the March for Life, shows our elected officials at the federal level the amazing way lives change with the help of grassroots organizations like yours. There's no replacement for the flesh-and-blood testimonial of a mother holding her child to show lawmakers that pregnancy centers are good for america.
A key piece of information Heartbeat International always hopes to underscore through the event is the privately funded, non-profit status of pregnancy help organizations. Unlike most meetings congressional offices hold with their constituents, there is never any request for public funds as part of the event, a fact that also stands in stark contrast to highly profitable, publicly funded abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.
Since beginning the program in 2009, over 100 women and children representing over 50 centers have visited over 200 congressional offices.
Your center can benefit from participating in Babies Go to Congress this January. Click here for more information and take this opportunity to share during a truly historic moment in our nation's history!
Defending the life-savers... Heartbeat has your back
Over the years, pregnancy centers have been under attack by abortion advocates from Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and many others. Heartbeat International is there to both officially refute the unfounded claims (through news coverage at PregnancyHelpNews.com), and to pass along needed information to affiliates through emails, conference calls, live or recorded webinars, and more.
So wether it's a protest from "The Handmaids", a "glitter bomb" in the mail, or a campaign of false reviews on your organization online, Heartbeat International is always there to help affiliates respond appropriately.
Learn more about Heartbeat's work of defending the pregnancy help movement here. (Note: Must be a Heartbeat affiliate to access)
Pro-life movement needs precinct captains
Maybe you didn’t know it, but there could be political vacancies right within your local community that need your pro-life leadership. Based in your neighborhood, the most local level of political office is that of precinct captain.
A precinct captain (also referred to as a central committee member or a precinct chairperson) acts as a liaison between a specific political party and the voters of a local precinct. Precinct captains are elected by their neighbors, and generally serve as volunteers, though in some cases they receive a small stipend from their respective political party.
A precinct captain serves his or her community by:
- Facilitating voter registration and absentee ballot access
- Leading “Get Out the Vote” outreach efforts
- Assisting with voters’ transportation to the polls
- Distributing party literature
- Promoting his or her respective political organization
The pro-life movement needs precinct captains!
As an informed voter, concerned with pro-life values, here’s what you can do to get involved in the political process in your own community:
- Educate your precinct captain. Start by finding out who your precinct captain is, then educate him or her about pro-life issues on a regular basis. You can search online to obtain a list of your county’s precinct captains by entering your political party, along with your county and state.
- Become a precinct captain. Perhaps your precinct’s leadership position is currently vacant, or your current precinct captain isn’t seeking reelection. This could be your chance to get involved in bringing about needed change by your grassroots involvement.
- Encourage your pro-life friends to become precinct captains. As you take a more active role in your local community’s political landscape, encourage your pro-life friends to join you.
To find out how you can impact future elections through your local precinct captain position, watch this simple, straightforward presentation: http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=30560385.
