In-Person | Online | In Print

Heartbeat International is committed to providing top-level training to the pregnancy help movement through our printed materials, on-site trainings and conferences, and online academy resources. We believe that all pregnancy help organizations should have access to quality training at all times.

In-Person

Heartbeat International is proud to offer several different in-person experiences for training and support. Our Annual Conference brings over 1,000 pregnancy help people together every spring, and in the summer we host our Pregnancy Help Institute with a variety of track options available for pregnancy help leaders. Our quarterly LOVE Approach Ultrasound Clinic championed a new form of training that connects the technical needs and the spiritual needs for medical professionals working in pregnancy help.

In addition to these excellent opportunities, organizations can schedule an on-site, in-depth consultations on a variety of topics including volunteer training, Board training, strategic planning, and more. Learn more about your options by clicking here!

Online

The Heartbeat International Academy provides life-affirming leaders, staff, and supporters with access to online workshops, forums, and courses on timely pregnancy help topics such as the abortion-minded client and how to identify victims of human trafficking. Between more than 250 live and recorded webinars, work at your pace courses, and private customized courses, there's always something at Heartbeat Academy for your team. In addition, live interactive classes are hosted regularly like ConCERT, our advanced distance learning course to take your staff to the next level in pregnancy help.

In Print

Heartbeat has a library of printed resources available for you to have at your fingertips for building an effective and healthy organization. Whether you are starting from scratch, needing some fundraising ideas, hoping to go medical, or simply training your staff, Board, and volunteers, you'll find the tool you need over at our online store.

Recordings from the 2024 Conference can be purchased here. 

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Plan now to attend our Annual Conference in
Birmingham, AL  |  April 30 - May 2, 2025

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Who Should Attend the Heartbeat International Annual Conference?

Heartbeat’s Annual Conference is designed for ministry leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers of life-affirming pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies, as well as professionals in the areas of medicine, counseling, social work, and education.

Our conference offers the most dynamic training to equip ministers and empower ministries worldwide in the pregnancy help community through the largest international Pregnancy Help Conference, this year both in-person and online!

There will be plenty to learn in person with the following trainings available:

• Unique, Professional Keynote Sessions
• Distinctive, Full-Day In-Depth Training Sessions
• Workshop Presentations from Ministry Experts
• And much more!

Conference Location

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC)
2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N,
Birmingham, AL 35203

Hotel Information (Group code will be in your Conference Registration Confirmation)

• Sheraton Birmingham Hotel 
• Westin Birmingham

Not your Typical Ministry. Not your Typical Training.

The Pregnancy Help Institute has provided thousands of pregnancy help leaders with professional training. Over time, this training has added key elements vital to the pregnancy help movement as services expand. 

This year is no different. Our 2025 Pregnancy Help Institute will be July 21-25 in Columbus, OH. Start planning now!

The Pregnancy Help Institute dives deep into core topics useful both in the pregnancy help movement and in life. Organized under three intensive tracks (New Director, Development, and Leadership), the Pregnancy Help Institute integrates executive-level instruction in a small-group environment, where you'll have the unparalleled opportunity to process information and strategies with experts and fellow front-line pregnancy help leaders. (Looking for ultrasound training? Click here!)

The New Director Track - for Directors with less than 3 years of experience

"I cannot imagine a more fitting training to kick off this new position. I left challenged, inspired, feeling connected to others in the movement. I am humbled and blessed."

If you have less than three years of experience in directing a life-affirming pregnancy center, medical clinic, maternity home, or nonprofit adoption agency, the New Director training is perfect for you. When you combine the wisdom gained from this training with your calling from the Lord, you are truly prepared to navigate effectively, avoid pitfalls, and increase your effectiveness as a leader. Facilitated by Heartbeat International staff with years of experience in pregnancy help leadership, you'll be in good hands.

Designed for Directors with less than 3 years of experience leading a pregnancy help organization.

This includes:

• Keys to a Healthy Organization
• Strategic Planning
• Board Governance
• Volunteer Recruitment, Retention, & Training
• Core Client Programs
• Development — Raising Friends and Funds
• Staff Growth & Development
• Energizing Tips to Maintain Focus

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The Development Track - for Fundraisers

"I am new to this field and have come away feeling equipped to make suggestions and push back on old systems and events that are less effective. I am excited to foster relationships with our supporters and to see where these relationships take us."

Advancing development through a more robust understanding of the nature and ministry of development is at the heart of this track. Anyone with responsibility for donor development or a part of the development plan will benefit from this advanced training. Seasoned pregnancy help leaders will join Cindi Boston-Bilotta, Leanna Baumer, Terri Barnhart, and Frances Lacson from Heartbeat's Mission Advancement team to provide a comprehensive view of a healthy development planning, follow-through, and steps for funding your mighty mission.

Designed for those whose role includes donor development within a pregnancy help organization.

This includes:

• Biblical Foundations for Fundraising
• Setting Goals and Targets
• Funding Your Mission - Starting and Building
• Creating & Maintaining Monthly Support
• Developing Church Relationships
• Building Major Gift Relationships
• Writing Effective Grants
• Communicating with Financial Partners
• Creating Effective Direct Appeals

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The Leadership Track - for Seasoned Leaders

"The leadership track went beyond expectations. For the first time in a long time, I was challenged in the area of strategic thinking, and I learned a lot that I will carry with me through life as a ministry leader, mother, and wife."

Created for seasoned leaders, the Leadership track contains concepts developed by Built to Lead, an executive coaching program that has trained CEOs, presidents, and ministry leaders nationwide. Here, you will learn proven techniques on how to lead effectively both at work and in your personal life and practice those methods throughout the week. Alumni are welcome to return for this track at any point for more training and refreshment!

Designed for seasoned leaders who want to invest in their ministry through leadership development.

This includes:

• Personal Leadership Development
• Goal Setting
• Team Building
• Leadership Growth (Leading Leaders)

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All Training Tracks will have prerequisite work that must be completed before attending the Pregnancy Help Institute. The list of prerequisites will be included in your registration confirmation

Hotel Information

Instructions for booking your hotel room at a neighboring hotel for $109/night are provided during registration. When booking at Heartbeat's selected hotel, you'll be within walking distance from the hotel, have breakfast provided, and have access to a local shuttle service in the evenings.

5 reasons you need to come to Pregnancy Help Institute

1. It’s corporate training at a non-profit cost.
   Businesses nationwide use Built to Lead to train CEOs, Presidents, and Boards in Leadership Training. We have partnered with these executive coaches to bring you business training at a price you can afford.
2. It’s far more dynamic and personal than a conference.
   Conferences, specifically the big annual ones, are incredible. There are so many people to meet and so much to learn, but sometimes you need more personalized in-depth training. Pregnancy Help Institute is intentionally sized for an intimate learning environment. Pregnancy Help Institute provides individual interaction and personal feedback to help you grow in your role and increase your effectiveness.
3. It’s vital to invest in yourself.
   "We must all learn to lead ourselves with excellence before we can lead a team towards excellence. In other words, we believe that excellence achieved individually will spread organizationally." - Built to Lead’s Belief
4. A burst of training can take you a long way. 
   One week can literally revolutionize your personal leadership as well as grow your knowledge and understanding. Working with trainers and fellow participants over an extended time yields an exponential return on your investment of time.
5. The relationships you build will be powerful.
   There's nothing more powerful than realizing you're not alone, and at Pregnancy Help Institute, you are surrounded by people not only who share your values, but also are close to you on the same journey.

Pregnancy Help Institute training qualifies for the Life Affirming Specialist (LAS) designation.

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Heartbeat on-site trainings and consultations support the uniqueness of your center as you equip staff and leaders to carry out your mission with confidence. Heartbeat helps your center with solutions that can move your services and operations to a new level.

Standard one-day, or multiple day, on-site trainings and consultations are available. Heartbeat also provides Concierge Consultation through a strategic partnership. (See details below)

Pricing for on-site training and consultation standard programs are offered at $1,000/day ($1,200/day for non-affiliates) with one Heartbeat consultant. This price applies to most trainings and consultations.

Pricing for Concierge Consultation through our Strategic Partnership is customized and built for each organization.

Special Discounts for Heartbeat International Affiliates

In addition to a wide variety of resources available at affordable prices, Heartbeat affiliates also receive a 20% discount on most trainings! For details and availability, please e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (888) 550-7577.

Training/Consultation is also offered to Heartbeat's U.S. affiliates through unlimited free phone and e-mail consultation. The Ministry Services team is available to help Heartbeat affiliates with any issue relating to programs, governance, operations, or for spiritual encouragement and prayer. 

On-Site Consultation

Heartbeat consultants provide affordable training seminars for staff, board, and/or volunteers of pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and others in the “helping field.” For example, we offer training seminars in The Love Approach, the Sexual Integrity™ Program, and Talking About Abortion (whether on your hotline or in your center). We also offer Board Trainings, Strategic Planning Facilitation, and Center Assessments, which were created to provide a comprehensive review of individual center operations, management, and governance. What does your organization need? We probably offer an on-site consultation for it!

For Centers:

Center 360° Assessment™

Gain perspective through Heartbeat’s on-site assessment of your organization as you make decisions to adopt new programs, meet the challenges you face with your Board, or work through changes with volunteers and staff. Center staff work with a Heartbeat consultant to take center functions to a higher level in operations, management, and governance. The two-day Center 360° Assessment reviews center operations, including legal and medical issues with a Heartbeat expert. The program starts with the Heartbeat survey, A Health Assessment for Your Organization and concludes with a detailed, written report summarizing your center’s needs, strengths, and risk management issues along with recommendations. Please e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (888) 550-7577 for more information.

Strategic Planning

This one and a half day consultation will assist your leadership to look three to five years into the future and answer the question, “What should this organization be accomplishing three to five years from now, and what should the organization look like?” There are great advantages to going through the strategic planning process and writing a Strategic Plan. In organizations, it gives leadership a chance to step back and work “on” the organization, to think about and dream about the future, to look at critical problems and issues the organization is facing, and to build teamwork among Board Members and the Executive Director. Strategic planning includes some of the following: situation analysis, direction setting, refining and adopting the plan, and implementing the plan. Before Heartbeat sends a facilitator, some advanced planning is required of your organization. Contact Heartbeat for more information.

For Boards:

Governing Essentials Consultation

This consultation works with Board Members to shine light on the key areas of Board responsibilities. Board Members discover and evaluate ways to grow in their roles in relationship to the Executive Director, staff, community, and each other through this consultation. New Board Members, seasoned Board Members, and Boards at any stage of development are energized by the Governing Essentials insight, techniques, and tools offered in this consultation. This one-day, on-site consultation with a Heartbeat expert focuses on your center’s realities: vision and mission, legal obligations, planning and implementation, policies and evaluations, Board function and development, finances, development, and much more. It is based on Heartbeat’s Governing Essentials: Your Personal Board Member Manual. Contact Heartbeat for more information.

For Staff and Volunteers:

Trainings qualify toward the Life-Affirming Specialist (LAS) Designation.

The LOVE Approach

This in-depth, one-day, on-site training with a Heartbeat expert gives trainees what they need to know to begin helping in a life-affirming organization. Through personal, direct contact with the Heartbeat trainer, volunteers can explore their special concerns so that they feel more confident going into their initial client interviews whether on the phone or in the office. This training is based on The LOVE Approach, the well-loved and proven program developed by Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. Contact Heartbeat for more information. 

Talking About Abortion Training

This one-day training was developed from the experiences of several Heartbeat affiliates. The consultant will teach a helpline/phone model for sharing information on abortion that can also be used in an office setting. You will learn how to use the Ten Point Health and Safety Checklist, and the talking points on RU-486 and the “morning after pill.” The training also includes updated information on abortion methods and includes further studies that have examined the physical and emotional effects of abortion on women. Contact the Heartbeat office for more information, date selection, and cost. Contact Heartbeat for more information. 

Concierge Consultation:

Customized to meet your need and take you to the next level. Through strategic partnership, we work together to create a comprehensive organizational consultation with personalized support. Concierge Consultation is designed and built specifically for your team and mission. We encourage you to listen in to the Pregnancy Help Podcast episode titled Concierge Consultation to Advance Your Mission to learn more. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (888) 550-7577 for more information. 

For more information, call the Heartbeat office at 614/885-7577
or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..