Mission Statement
Birthline is a Christian-based organization providing education, mentoring, support services and referrals to anyone affected by an unintended or crisis pregnancy; and promote healthy relationships, sexual integrity and abstinence education to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Birthline helped teens and young adults prevent unplanned pregnancies by providing abstinence education, one-to-one mentoring, and support for healthy relationships. The programs have encouraged our youth to understand they do have options, and don’t have to be sexually active per cultural norms. And, if they have been sexually active, they understand they can begin where they are and make a new start. In 2014, 1,652 middle and high school students participated, along with 1,744 young adults on college campuses or in the community. Outcomes are tracked through pre- and post-surveys. 60% of high school students claimed that the HEART program helped them make healthy decisions about their sexual activity; all the age groups received the knowledge to make behavior changes needed to reduce health risks, and to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies.
Birthline also provided medical tests and pregnancy options consulting for those facing an unplanned pregnancy. Last year, 217 women and men ranging in age from 14 to 50 years old were mentored on their option; direct support for parenting and adoption was provided. Nearly 2,000 community referrals were given for housing, food and comprehensive medical support for vulnerable populations. 292 women and men participated in the Stepping Stones educational incentive program. Outcomes included healthier pregnancies, improved parenting skills, family stability, and self-reliance.
Current Goals
Our objectives are to ensure that:
(a) women and men facing an unintended or challenging pregnancy are provided the mentoring and support they need to choose life for their child; (b) women have the opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy; (c) women and men are provided with information on parenting and adoption so they can make the decision that is best for them; (d) teens and young adults in the area have the opportunity to receive education on healthy relationships, with a focus on sexual purity/ integrity and abstinence until marriage, as a way to prevent unintended pregnancies.
We will accomplish this through specific goals of:
1) Recruit, develop and retain committed board members to ensure all members are educated and equipped to lead the organization.
2) Conduct a strategic plan to determine vision and strategic objectives for the next 3 to 5 years; use outcomes as a guide for budgeting and other priorities.
3) Increase outreach and marketing efforts to attract 20% more vulnerable high school and college students for pregnancy prevention programs, and those needing support for an unplanned pregnancy.
4) Strengthen programs and services through improved evaluation methods to ensure we are achieving our desired impact on those we serve.
5) Improve our financial capacity by increasing our individual donor base by 10%; and our monthly donors by 15%.
Community or Constituency Served
Birthline serves two distinct groups in the central Minnesota region. First, any woman (and man) who may be facing a crisis pregnancy, whether that crisis is based on an unintended pregnancy or a need for support at any point in her pregnancy (ages 12-50). The second group is linked to our abstinence education and sexual integrity programs and includes students in middle school, high school and college, as well as the community at large (18-24).
Geographic Area Served
Central Minnesota: While there are no specific geographic boundaries, our typical service area is about a 60 mile radius around St. Cloud MN. Typically, about 87% of clients come from Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties.
