For 42 years, Lifeline Children’s Services has been providing gospel hope to vulnerable children, women and families in Birmingham. What was originally born out of Briarwood Presbyterian Church by Wales Goebel and John Carr, now stretches throughout the United States and 29 countries around the world.
Lifeline was founded to walk with women through crisis pregnancies and equip them to make life-giving choices for their baby. Through Lifeline’s pregnancy and counseling services, women are educated to know their options and be counseled through their entire pregnancy.
Lifeline has grown into a holistic ministry that seeks to bring hope through international and domestic adoption, pregnancy counseling, foster care, family reunification, global orphan care, education and counseling.
Outside of family and friends, doctors and medical professionals are the most influential people in a woman’s decision about her pregnancy. There may be circumstances when women in care are facing choices regarding their pregnancies. It is vital that medical professionals know the options for women in unplanned pregnancies, educate them and be aware of various resources in their community that can help women. Lifeline is an adoption referral partner physicians can trust.
“I thank God for this organization! I was in a place where I was in no shape to take care of a new baby. I was able to place my baby with Lifeline. This place honestly saved my life,” a birth mom and client at Lifeline said.
Lifeline provides options counseling to women in crisis pregnancies. Pregnancy counselors inform a woman of all her options, whether that’s parenting, adoption or abortion. Lifeline helps women explore their options with a goal of balance in what’s best for them and their child. Several qualities make Lifeline a unique option for expectant moms:
A personal advocate who represents a woman’s interests.
Freedom to consider all their pregnancy options.
Decision making at their own pace.
A Christian approach to pregnancy planning.
Hope and peace through all-inclusive care.
Christie Mac Segars, Senior Vice President of Domestic Services at Lifeline, thinks it’s important for women to be aware of their options.
“Women need to know that there is hope,” Segars said. “They need to know there is help if they choose parenting and there is another life-giving option if they are not equipped to parent.”
At Lifeline, clients will receive confidential support, an adoption plan, financial assistance and pre- and post-placement support. A local staff member will be committed to the client and her baby. This advocate will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
If a woman chooses adoption for her child, Lifeline’s pregnancy counselors will support her through the process, helping her decide whether she desires an open, semi-open or closed adoption. Advocates will be there for the client in every step of her pregnancy — not only providing emotional support, but also connecting them to resources they may need such as insurance, pre-natal care and housing. There is also free support offered for housing, everyday expenses and other pregnancy needs.
Lifeline offers training and best practice suggestions for physicians as they navigate care for their patients in crisis pregnancies. To refer a patient or schedule a training with Lifeline’s expert pregnancy counselors and team of advocates, email pregnant@lifelinechild.org and a Lifeline employee will follow up with next steps. To learn moreabout Lifeline’s pregnancy counseling services, visit planmyadoption.org.To learn more about Lifeline, visitlifelinechild.org.
