Open Door offers mobile ultrasound
Albany women who think that they might be pregnant will soon have another option for free pregnancy conformation, counseling, and referrals thanks to the Open Door Pregnancy and Family Resource Center’s new mobile unit.
“The Open Door mobile unit will travel fully-equipped to provide free pregnancy tests, limited free OB ultrasounds, options counseling, and referrals,” said mobile manager Margaret McKinney. “We plan to serve Albany twice a month.”
The mobile unit was set up near the Albany First Baptist Church for several hours last week, and the operators plan to return to Albany on a regular basis in the near future.
The Open Door is a faith-based, life affirming pregnancy and family center that provides resources, mentoring, and education for life skills, according to their mission statement.
The center has offices in Cisco and Breckenridge and will use the mobile unit to serve more clients in the surrounding area.
Affiliated with ICU Mobile, the mobile unit will be staffed by McKinney and registered nurse Amy Walker. Walker is certified in early term pregnancy ultrasound.
“The idea is to provide needed services to those mothers who do not currently have the money for the co-pay for a doctor’s visit, or gas money to travel to our centers,” McKinney said. “Those who need to sign up for pregnancy Medicaid have to provide proof of pregnancy before they can enroll, and some of those mothers can not afford the co-pay for that first doctor visit. This can allow them to satisfy that requirement.”
McKinney added that at the Open Door’s regular clinics they also offer support including some diapers and kids clothing to those who already have children.
“We hope to eventually provide some of that with the mobile unit,” she said. “Due to space limitations we probably won’t be able to bring clothing items, but we are hoping that we will be able to offer diapers.”
McKinney and staff members at The Open Door are still finalizing the schedule, but expect to soon be in Albany from about 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. until around 4:00 p.m. twice a month.
“Clients will be able to call and schedule appointments, but we also welcome walk-ins,” said McKinney.
For more information go to www.supportopendoor.org or the organization’s Facebook page @support opendoor.
Other services offered by The Open Door at their centers include classes in parenting, GED, self help, grief support, CPR, life skills, spiritual mentoring, relationships, and sex education.
The pro-life organization also sponsors motivational speakers at area schools.
