04-09-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING April 9, 2018 location. Two (2) out of three (3) babies born in South Bend start with women's care. This means that Women's Care Center is, by far, the largest provider of early pre-natal pregnancy and parenting support in South Bend. Ms. Hunsberger continued, In 2017, 1,360 from zip codes 46628 and 46619 were served at Women's Care Center. Sixty percent (60%) come as referrals from friends and families. The families we serve come back an average of nine(9)times. The reason our clients return themselves and refer their friends is because of the quality of care they receive. Here, women are welcomed without judgment, without stigma and without shame. Here, women are reminded of their own goodness, dignity and worth. Here, women are empowered and strengthened. This care extends well beyond an initial decision about a pregnancy. We provide sustained, concrete practical support and have done so for years. Through our pre-natal care plans, one (1)-on-one (1) goal sessions and daily parenting classes, families earn coupons that are redeemable in our store for new clothing, cribs, car seats, and hundreds of thousands of diapers. All of our services are provided in English and Spanish, and all are free. Babies in South Bend are healthier because their mothers received pre-natal vitamins and are encouraged to go to the doctor sooner. Families are stronger because parents learned skills and build community at our classes. And children are prepared for school because they receive books every time they visit our Center. Our current location on Chapin Street is far too small and hidden to provide this scope of care. At 3527 Lincoln Way West, we stand ready to serve the women and families of the West Side. I would like to take a moment to directly address some questions and concerns that have come to our attention. One (1), again, we are not activists. A photo was provided to Councilmembers purporting to show our Bloomington location. That is not a picture of our Center or any location close to our Center.There is no Penske in the vicinity of our Center. College Avenue in Bloomington is lined with meters, the street in the photo is not metered. The space between our Bloomington office and Planned Parenthood is a driveway. It is not our Center. A second photo was provided and we do not have a Center in Louisville, Kentucky. We have a Center in Berea, Kentucky, which is well over two (2) hours away. That is not us. We are not activists. Some have voiced concerns that protests increase when we open or that we are a magnet for protestors, even if we don't do it ourselves. The same memo that has the two (2)photos sites a study identifying 2016 as the year in which the most protests occurred at the abortion clinic in Bloomington. Our Center opened in February of 2017. This offers support to the information that we have and that we regularly receive from the ground that protesting diminishes when we open.People who want to fight against abortion clinics see that we provide a different option and they are less likely to protest. That has been our experience since we opened. That is the safety that we offer to the City of South Bend. We will commit, in writing, to not have protestors on our property. There will be fewer protestors because we are there because we offer the choice to choose life. Ms. Hunsberger went on, We offer women a choice. Twenty-two (22)times we have been located next to an abortion provider. At times, they've opened first and at other times, we have. Every time, we have peacefully coexisted. Many times, abortion clinics, including Whole Women's Health, have referred women to us. There has never been an instance of violence. To demonstrate our commitment to creating an environment of peace, we reached out, individually, to each remonstrator from the Area Plan Commission meeting. I sent an invitation to the President of the proposed abortion clinic. We have not received any responses. And, that is not the first time we have reached out to abortion providers next door and not received a response. The fact that Women's Care and Whole Women's Health offer very different options does not mean that the two companies cannot exist in a peaceful environment. Just next door, King Gyros and Wendy's are side by side. The services we provide are clearly written on our exterior sign and women who come into our Center are told exactly what we do provide and don't provide as soon as they walk in the door. Our depth,reach and quality of services will be a tremendous benefit at 3527 Lincoln Way West. In terms of zoning and accessibility, Women's Care will provide a huge benefit to the community. Our model of care requires a beautiful, home-like setting. We work hard to maintain the physical structure of the home and create a beautifully landscaped and well-maintained yard. In 2010, our downtown office won our Pride of Place award for the most attractive building in South Bend. 3527 Lincoln Way West is easily accessible to the clients who need us most. It is minutes from the closest bus stop and easily accessible to Elwood. We will put a walking path that is easy to navigate with strollers. Women's Care Center's presence will create a perfect transition from residential to commercial. Women's Care is a trusted and respected community partner. With state-of-the-art 313-41) ultrasound machines operated by highly skilled nurses and ultra- sonographers and direct oversight by the most well respected physicians in the area, our clients know that they are worth the highest quality of care. In my position as Vice President, I am 9