Supporting Parents Through Unexpected Pregnancies
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A local nonprofit is working to support individuals facing unexpected pregnancies.
Choices Chattanooga provides free medical services, education, and resources aimed at helping parents feel informed and supported.
The organization also partners with community groups to extend that support beyond its doors.
At its core, Choices aims to be more than just a medical resource.
“We provide them a safe place. A place where they can be seen and heard, where they can share some of their, not just their physical needs, not just the medical needs that we can meet, but also the emotional and spiritual needs that they have as well,” said Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Huskins.
That support is strengthened through partnerships with local organizations, including Silverdale Baptist Church.
Volunteers from the church work closely with Choices, helping meet both practical and everyday needs.
“From a woman to woman’s heart, I feel like it’s a needed ministry for women to be educated about the choices that they have when they’re pregnant and the ways that we can come alongside them and help them,” said Silverdale Baptist Church Volunteer Laura Hydas. “We do landscaping, we give to the boutique, my husband was here the other day putting a desk together, so it’s just whatever they need.”
Hydas says that hands-on support is a way to live out their mission.
“If we’re going to say we support life, we need to come alongside these people and these ministries,” she said.
Leaders at Choices say their goal is to walk alongside parents through every stage of pregnancy and beyond.
“So Choices is there to walk alongside them and help them see what the future can be, help them see the possibilities, and to help remove any obstacles in their way to thinking that they can be a parent,” said Development Director Jennie Landreth. “They’re not alone.”
For some families, that support begins even from a distance.
“I was active duty military whenever we found out he existed, so I was stationed in North Carolina… I was nowhere near my family,” said Shannon Lincoln. “And I was able to do online virtual meetings with the people here at Choices.”
After their child was born, the support didn’t stop.
“You walk in, you feel like you get a hug from everybody. Everybody wants to know how you’re doing, how you’re feeling, how the baby’s doing… and even after pregnancy, they support postpartum depression, helping you with the newborn and just trying to balance your new life,” Lincoln said.
Fathers are also part of that journey.
“It takes those hard conversations to break that cycle… my father wasn’t around in my life,” said Justin Lincoln. “Having that support helped me learn how to be there for my son and be a healthy role model.”
If you’re interested in getting involved, Choices’ annual walk-a-thon fundraiser is set for April 11 at the Tennessee Riverpark, with check-in starting at 9:30 AM.
