The Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre has signed a lease for 72 square metres at 4911-51 Avenue for its new satellite office and will be renovating the space prior to opening in the early part of 2014.
Anne Waddell, executive director of the centre, informed council of the lease at council's policies and priorities committee meeting on Nov. 18. The Red Deer-based care centre will initially have a paid director who will work 15 hours per week, with three volunteer counsellors also staffing the satellite office. Waddell estimated the renovation will cost $40,000 and the first year's budget will be $60,000.
Waddell told councillors there is a great need in the Mountain View County area for the services the pregnancy care centre offers, but that it's often difficult for people needing support to go to Red Deer. She said she expects the office in Olds will see about 100 clients per year.
“We're excited to be here,” Waddell told councillors.
The Red Deer centre offers pregnancy tests in a safe, confidential environment as well as information about pregnancy, abortion procedures and risks and parenting and adoption.
The centre also runs a 24-hour help line, male mentorship program and referrals for medical care and community resources. All the services are free.
The centre will be offering a training program for the Olds location beginning on the morning of Jan. 22 for volunteers to work with clients. The program will run for eight weeks. Training will cover topics such as peer counselling and centre operations.
In an interview following the meeting, Waddell said the centre staff plan on doing some local fundraising to help with the renovation costs and are hoping for donated labour and materials.
“We'll be reaching out to the community to help out in that way,” she said.
The average age of clients the centre sees is between 19 and 24 and with the college located here, the services the centre offers are needed, Waddell said.
The volunteers, she added, will be a critical part of the operation, as the centre doesn't have the budget to pay staff for all the services offered at the centre. People wishing to volunteer can contact the centre at 403-343-1611. Candidates will be interviewed by centre staff prior to the training.
“The training helps them understand what our services are and (understand) the clients as well,” she said.
The care centre is a charitable non-profit group and is funded primarily by individuals, businesses, community groups and fundraising.
