I am excited to announce that Catholic Social Service has once again received the Stan Clark Pregnancy Maintenance Initiative grant! We have provided pregnancy counseling services under this grant in the past, however, we have been without it for the last couple of years.

This is a great thing for us, and even more importantly, for those we serve! With this grant, we are able to provide a range of services for pregnant and parenting women of any age and in all 28 counties in Southwest Kansas. These services include counseling and supportive services, options counseling, case management, referrals to other resources, goal setting and more! The best part for those receiving services is that there is NO CHARGE for the person receiving the service!

One of our goals is to help people be self sufficient and to lift themselves and their children out of the cycle of poverty. We are able to help point them in the right direction by focusing on education, emergency assistance if necessary, and building employment skills.

If you, or anyone you know, is pregnant and needing support, please contact Amy Falcon at 620-227-1590 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pregnancy can be both scary and exciting, especially if it is your first pregnancy. Follow the Pregnancy Month-by-Month Series from SHD Enterprises (2000), and stay in the loop about what to expect during each month of your pregnancy.

Who: Any pregnant woman may attend the class either alone or with their partner. It is recommended to attend no earlier than 1 to 2 months before your due date. Please do not bring young children to the class.

What: Childbirth class covers: What is labor; the difference between true and false labor, when to go to the hospital, medication options for labor, relaxation and breathing techniques, breastfeeding, care of the newborn, postpartum recovery and any other questions. A tour of The Women's Center is included.

When: On the third Saturday of each month. Class is from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a one hour lunch break.

Where: 108 Ross Blvd at Western Plains Medical Complex Annex in the classroom.

The 2011 schedule is as follows:

For more information: call 620-225-8472

~~~

A New Dramatic Series about Teen Pregnancy and the Nine Month Journey Between Childhood and Adulthood

9INE

9INE provides a powerful spotlight on the decisions teens face when confronted with pregnancy. Viewers are directed to resources and information that take into account many diverse perspectives.

These nine, short videos (each approximately 10 minutes long) show what it's like to be dealing with a pregnancy at a young age. They also really focus on the young man's perspective. I thought these seemed very "real" and would like to get opinions from others!

Watch them here and send your opinion to Amy Falcon, or post on Facebook here~~we would love to hear from you!