Home > News

Center offers counseling for unplanned pregnancies
Nonprofit organization is available to all students and services are free
By Kristi Peregoy
kperegoy@mscd.edu

The Alternatives Pregnancy Center at Auraria is a relatively unknown organization. That might be because a church may be the last place one might look to find help when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. But up the walkway at St. Elizabeth’s Church, through the screen door and past the white bell labeled ‘APC’, Karla Bebber and her team of volunteers are ready and willing to counsel women through the emotional strain of an unplanned pregnancy.

“No matter a woman’s choice we still want to be there for her and help her in any way we can,” said Bebber, who heads the APC. “We are not a medical clinic. We are just here to provide support for our clients about pregnancy related issues.”

Just walking up can be a little intimidating, but Bebber welcomes everybody to seek out APC services if needed. Though the APC is inside a church, it is no way affiliated with it.

The Auraria Campus office is only one branch of the Alternatives Pregnancy Center, which has called Denver home for 24 years. APC is a nonprofit organization that offers all services free of charge relying on donations from individuals, companies, churches and other foundations according to the organization’s website, http://www.youhavealternatives.org.

The story on how APC found its way to Auraria started three years ago. Students who were volunteering at the Denver branch decided to bring services to the campus, since one in four women will encounter an unplanned pregnancy before the age of 18. About a year ago–after a lot of waiting–office space opened up in St. Elizabeth’s Church, giving Bebber and her staff a place to set up.

However, the space came with some drawbacks. It can be hard to locate, being that it is in a church and is not highly visible to students.

“It would be great if we could be in the Tivoli where everybody could see us, but that hasn’t happened yet,” Bebber said.

In an unofficial survey, Metro students commented that APC would fit in better at the Plaza building, putting it closer to the health clinic.

Unplanned pregnancy can be an awkward subject to try to communicate, and seeing how many people have strong opinions about the subject, having those discussions in a religious setting can cause tension.

“We are an organization who just wants to walk with men and women through the emotions that go with an unplanned pregnancy,” Bebber said. In other words, politics are left at the door.

Housing resources, medical referrals, free pregnancy testing, as well as counseling, are just some of the services provided to anybody who asks.

“Our pregnancy tests are just like the ones you find in the store, but they are free and about 98 percent effective,” Bebber said.

She and several student volunteers provide counseling services. The APC is a student-run organization with all student volunteers.

Student volunteers interested in the services APC offers have a few different options. When first starting, volunteers may be asked to post flyers throughout the campus to raise awareness among students. The website reports that approximately 125 volunteers, eight full-time employees and one part-time employee operate the center.

Students who want to be more involved can also become counselors, creating an opportunity to gain real-world experience while not only in school, but while on campus. Student counselors go through about 30 hours of basic crisis intervention training. The newly educated volunteers are required to counsel for four hours a week throughout the school year.

Along with counseling they provide information about STDs, pregnancy choice and medical referrals. Pamphlets on all related subjects, as well as basic information, are always available.

“None of us here are (professional) therapists,” Bebber said. “We won’t turn anybody away. A woman’s life is more important than anything else.”

Bebber is the only one present during the summer, but more volunteers will start showing up around the start of the fall semester.

Walk-in hours for any of the services offered are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays or by appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.

Bebber is available though e-mail at apcauraria@aol.com, or through a 24-hour helpline, 1-800-395-HELP, for anyone seeking more information.