Bringing hope and resources to new parents

Often, when an individual faces a crisis the initial response is to react to emotions and make a quick decision. Hope Pregnancy Center (HPC) exists to serve women and men facing the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy. HPC offers a safe space and listening ear with an opportunity for women and men to learn they have time to explore their options and make informed decisions.

Founding and mission

Originally called Crisis Pregnancy Center, two locations were opened in 1986 in Tulsa and North OKC by the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC). OBHC has served families and children across Oklahoma since 1903, including at the Boys Ranch Town in Edmond.

Since its original opening, HPC continues to provide the same compassionate services and has added programs to provide weekly support for moms and dads. The Hope Pregnancy Center in Edmond was opened in 2016 as the organization’s fifth location, and the other two locations are in South OKC and Ardmore. 

“When a new mom and dad walk into our door in crisis, it is an honor to serve them in their need,” said HPC Edmond Director Emilie Blount. “There are people hurting all around us, and Hope Pregnancy Center is a name that is known for helping meet needs in an unplanned pregnancy.”

All services are free, confidential, and permission-based, provided without bias or judgment. Pregnancy testing and ultrasounds are administered by registered diagnostic sonographers or registered nurses trained in sonography. On average, HPC serves more than 3,200 women and men each year.

Expanding service offerings

Statistics reveal that 25% of early pregnancies end in miscarriage. Only an ultrasound can confirm and date the pregnancy, so HPC added ultrasounds in 2001. This gives women the opportunity to see the baby inside their womb and the baby’s heart beating as early as five weeks and one day of pregnancy. 

HPC continues to serve and care for women regardless of the pregnancy decision they make. Recognizing the pain many women experience following an abortion, HPC began offering confidential classes to help women heal from abortion in 2006. This program continues to grow with biannual facilitator training. 

“Hope Pregnancy Center not only meets individual needs, but truly invests in the whole person, caring for the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those they serve,” said Blount. “When I learned about the impact Hope was making in the lives of women and men I knew I wanted to be a part!”

After staying home with her children for three years, Blount felt a desire to get involved with a local outreach making a real difference in the lives of individuals in my community. She has been with HPC since 2015, becoming director of the Edmond location in early 2021. 

“My goal is to spread the word in the community about who Hope is and how we can help those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy,” said Blount. “No woman or couple needs to face an unplanned pregnancy alone.”

Continued community growth

Hope Pregnancy Centers are mostly volunteer-staffed by individuals in the community – nurses, counselors, parents, teachers, and other individuals who believe it is important for women and men to have access to free and confidential services that empower them to make informed pregnancy decisions. They also partner with other organizations to extend their resources for new parents. 

“HPC works alongside other nonprofits and organizations in the community with referrals to meet client needs that go beyond what Hope offers,” said Blount. “Our extensive referral guide includes local doctors, clinics, counselors, social services, addiction recovery, and other services to help support an individual or family.”

To learn more about the referral guide or the Hope Pregnancy Center mission, visit thinkimpregnant.org.