Residential Home for Pregnant & New Mothers: Good Counsel Homes, South Jersey • 800-723-8331 • help.goodcounselhomes.org

Established in 1985, these residential homes in New York and New Jersey have given more than 8,000 homeless, expectant new mothers and their children safe places to shelter, confidential post-abortion healing and much more.

“We never turn pregnant women in need away. We’re a loving home,” states the GCH website. “When family members are unable or fall short, we can be the support system you need.”

Help is provided through prenatal care, maternity and health care before and after birth; help with budgeting and finding a job; childcare for babies while mothers work; classes on parenting, case management and much more.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton: 800-360-7711 • 24-hour hotline for Domestic Violence Services: 1-877-871-7551 • catholiccharitiestrenton.org

The Trenton Diocese’s Catholic Charities provides a help and information center to connect more than 100,000 individuals annually with a variety of essential services regardless of religious background.

“In addition to providing the highest level of professional treatment and recovery services,” the Catholic Charities website explains, “vulnerable residents are assisted with basic needs – food, clothing, temporary housing – as well as with vocational training and financial literacy in order to achieve self-sufficiency.”

All services are fully accredited by The Council of Accreditation for Children and Family Services, and programs are licensed by the appropriate state agency, protecting confidentiality.

“For My Baby and Me”: 24-hour hotline: 609-256-7801

For pregnant women who suffer from addiction, those who enroll in My Baby and Me receive medical care through all stages of pregnancy, birth and postpartum; medication-assisted addiction treatment; peer recovery and relapse prevention counseling and support; housing assistance; transportation; employment services and childcare for dependents.

“This is a subset of that population that’s gotten lost because of the lack of infrastructure for coordination between maternal health and addiction medicine,” said Susan Loughery, director of operations for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. “We’re meeting the patient where she is and wrapping whatever treatment is needed around her.”

Abortion Pill Reversal: 1-877-558-0333 (24/7) • abortionpillreversal.com

For pregnant women who have considered the abortion pill or have already taken the first pill and are having second thoughts, it might not be too late.

Abortion Pill Reversal is the protocol used to reverse the effects of the first abortion pill, administered by the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) – a team of over 1,000 healthcare professionals, ready 24/7 to help women give their baby a second chance.

“We are the agile guardians of that precious moment in time when a woman chooses to give her unborn child a chance to fight for life,” the organization’s website notes. “Abortion Pill Reversal says, ‘here is a second chance at life, just in time.’”

New Jersey’s ‘Safe Haven’: Free 24/7 hotline: 1-877-839-2339 • www.nj.gov/njsafehaven

New Jersey has a Safe Haven where anyone can surrender a baby under 30 days old safely, legally and confidentially at any hospital emergency room or police station, or those fire, ambulance or first aid stations that are staffed 24 hours per day. The New Jersey Department of Children and Families will ensure that the infant is placed with a foster or pre-adoptive home.

As reported on nj.gov, according to national statistics from 1991 to 1998, child abandonment in public places increased 62%. The legal ways to give up an unwanted child were too complex for scared, uninformed young mothers.

New Jersey became the fifth state to pass Safe Haven legislation on Aug. 7, 2000. The laws now exist in all 50 states. As long as the child shows no signs of intentional abuse, no names or other information is required.

Local Pregnancy Help Centers

These help centers, while not always Catholic in origin, are often supported by Catholic and Christian pro-life ministries. They offer counseling support, pregnancy tests, mom/baby items and more:

Birthright is a non-profit charitable organization that has been supporting women facing unplanned pregnancies for more than 50 years, with centers throughout the United States, Canada and Africa, supported by volunteers and private donations:

Birthright of Freehold (Monmouth): birthright.org/freehold, 732-462-2888

Birthright of Red Bank (Monmouth): birthright.org/redbank, 732-747-7600

Birthright of Toms River (Ocean): birthright.org/tomsriver, 732-349-0154

Birthright of Barnegat (Ocean): birthright.org/barnegat/, 609-660-0485

Madonna House, Neptune (Monmouth): themadonnahouse.com • 732-775-1140

Madonna House Inc. was founded by Rebecca Blonski, in 1987, and serves infants, children and women by providing clothing, juvenile furnishings, toys, infant formula, diapers, small household items and other life necessities to impoverished and needy families at no cost to them. The organization is staffed by volunteers.

1st Way Life Center Burlington: Free ultrasound; 1stwaylifecenter.com • 609-871-1431 • National hotline: 800-848-LOVE

Founded in 1970, the National Life Center, Inc., is the parent organization for 1st Way pregnancy service centers located throughout the United States, serving any girl or woman with an unplanned pregnancy. The person-to-person structure is based on the belief that no problem is so great that it warrants destruction of innocent life. A network of associates works closely with 1st Way Life Center via the national toll-free hotline, connecting women to centers nearest them.

“We can help any woman or girl to find medical, legal or psychological help as well as shelter, education and adoption guidance as desired through our network,” the national website states. “Complete confidentially is guaranteed and our services are free.”

Options for Women: Trenton (Mercer): Free ultrasound; optionsnj.org • 732-362-2256 | Cherry Hill (Camden): Free ultrasound • optionsnj.org • 856-795-0048

Options for Women offers free medical consultation with a second visit ultrasound, pregnancy navigation and customized support. Established in 1985 as a non-profit agency by grants and private funding, Options for Women helps women sort through emotions and choices available, treating them with kindness and respect for privacy. The organization offers access to other social service agencies, free classes and workshops on prenatal care, postpartum screening, and even parenting support groups.

Their mission is “to offer you a safe, comfortable place to process an extremely difficult decision,” the Options for Women website notes. “We have no financial interest in your choice, and that is what sets us apart ... we’re here to support you through this difficult time.”

Choice One: Lawrenceville (Mercer): Free ultrasound • www.mychoiceone.org • text 267-217-3430 reply will be discreet • 1-800-497-TEST

Free and confidential pregnancy-related services that include a pregnancy test, pregnancy verification ultrasound, counseling, medical and prenatal care referrals, postpartum depression, and abortion recovery. Other services include sexually transmitted infection (STD, STI) screening and treatment, parenting sessions, family aid of material assistance and more. Spanish mentors and counselors are available at all locations.

“We offer services that are designed to minister to your heart, mind, body, and soul at any age or in any circumstance,” the ChoiceOne website explains. “ChoiceOne was created to help women understand that they are unconditionally loved by God and we in turn strive to love and serve with integrity.”

The Open Door Pregnancy Center: Toms River (Ocean) • Free ultrasound • theopendoor.com • 732-240-5504

With free services that include pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, parenting programs, material assistance, post-abortive and miscarriage support and sexual integrity coaching, The Open Door Pregnancy Center seeks to assist women experiencing unplanned pregnancy confidentially and with sensitivity. The center support includes a parenting program, material support for pregnant women and new parents, guidance for fathers of an unplanned child, as well as a guide through the adoption process.

Solutions Health and Pregnancy Center, Shrewsbury (Monmouth) • Free ultrasound • solutionshpc.com • 732-747-5454

Solutions Health and Pregnancy Center is a licensed medical clinic located in Shrewsbury that helps sexually active women answer five critical questions: “Am I pregnant – really?”; “Will it end naturally?”; “What are my options?”; “Do I qualify for Medicaid?”; and “Do I have an STD?” The services are provided at no cost in a private, supportive setting. No insurance is required, and the center does not provide or refer abortions.

More resources available at dioceseoftrenton.org/pregnancy-resources