Thibodaux Rotary Club – Helen Terrebonne
September 25, 2012
By: Amy Connor-Flores
Helen Terrebonne, with Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Center spoke to rotary on Tuesday to give an overview of the Center’s mission in the community. Helen grew up volunteering for many different organizations and has been helping to empower women through Crossroads since she was hired as an executive assistant in 2010.
Crossroads is located in downtown Thibodaux and is an education and counseling resource for women who are vulnerable to choosing abortion due to unplanned pregnancy. The organization is 10 years old and is the first of its type in the Bayou Region.
Founded in 2003 by a hotline volunteer, Crossroads has served over 1800 clients in our area and welcomed approximately 800 babies into its family. More than 3000 Crisis Pregnancy Centers of this type exist nationwide.
Unplanned pregnancy has a significant impact on our state as well as the rest of the country. Up to half of all pregnancies are unintended. Teen pregnancy costs U.S. tax payers $17 billion. Average birth weights are at an all-time low and teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school, remain unmarried, and live in poverty.
Louisiana has the second-highest rate of births to unmarried mothers and the third-highest rate of second-time births to teen moms. However more Louisiana moms receive prenatal care due to state programs that offer assistance.
Organizations like Crossroads can help confused, unwed moms to make an educated decision regarding abortion. Their clients get information on alternatives like adoption and assistance if they choose to parent. The center’s objective is to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies through education on sexual integrity among young people. They help to support young parents and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect as well as reducing stress leading to violence in relationships.
The center offers free pregnancy tests and limited obstetric ultrasounds to determine age and viability. The workers counsel their clients on parenting, childbirth, adoption and facts about abortion without using scare tactics or passing judgment. Ongoing prenatal support is offered as well.
One particular program they offer is called Merits for Moms, which helps mom earn free baby items. Referrals of given for community assistance from programs like WIC and Medicaid. They are also a Safe Haven Emergency Care Facility. Crossroads does not use a religious agenda to influence its clients, but it is a Christian Pro-Life organization.
Crossroads will be having its annual Gala on October 24th from 6:30-9:30p.m. at the NSU Ballroom. Tickets are $50 per person. Also, since October is known as Respect Life Month, a free showing of the movie October Baby will be featured at the St. Thomas Aquinas Center on October 17th at 6:30 p.m.
More information on these events and about Crossroads can be found at http://www.crossroadsprc.org.
