Focus on the Family considers Portland pregnancy centers for ultrasound grant

    PORTLAND — According to Focus on the Family, the most powerful tool to open people’s eyes regarding the truth about life in the womb is ultrasound. More than 70 percent of abortion-vulnerable women who see their baby in their own womb with their own eyes choose to carry to term.
     Focus on the Family has launched a nationwide initiative to work with local pregnancy resource centers to maximize this tool. This includes accepting applications from pregnancy centers for matching grant funding from Focus..
     As part of applying for Focus’ Options Ultrasound program, the Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater Portland described their operation in-depth. The Colorado-based ministry responded positively, sending representatives Darlene Norberg and Bruce Cole to the Rose City March 20-22 to both evaluate Portland’s PRC against national standards, and to exchange best practices in client outreach and marketing, methods for providing services, collaborating with the church community, management methods and more.
     While the Portland agency has ultrasound machines at each of its six clinics, it is short on resources to fund nurse training, nursing staff, management, and supplies to provide ultrasound at every center, every hour.     Also, its current ultrasound machines are a “generation” behind in technology. If Focus of the Family funds are granted, PRC hopes to dramatically increase its capacity from 500 ultrasound procedures per year to more than 5,000.
     Word on funding from Focus is expected in the next several weeks. Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater Portland would need to match part of the funds if they become available. For details,contact Larry Gadbaugh, chief executive officer of the Portland centers, at 503-256-0808.