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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday | February 23, 2016
Contact: Jay Hobbs, Director of Communications and Marketing
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COLUMBUS, OH - Less than two months into the calendar year, 2016 is shaping up to be a major marker in Heartbeat International’s history. The network is welcoming its 2,000th affiliated pregnancy help organization and celebrating the 13th anniversary of its 24-7 pregnancy helpline, Option Line.

Called into existence by local pregnancy centers in 1971 as the first-ever network of pregnancy help, Heartbeat International’s 2,000th affiliate is First Choice Pregnancy Center, a medical center offering free ultrasound scanning, STI testing, pregnancy testing and more in Weatherford, Oklahoma, home of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

The center’s executive director, Kathy Gibson, whose journey to pro-life work began shortly after she experienced an abortion, attended Heartbeat International’s Pregnancy Help Institute in Dec. 2015, along with her executive assistant.

“In 20 years in this work, I have never experienced anything like it,” Gibson said of the Institute. “From there, joining Heartbeat International was a no-brainer. I feel like Heartbeat is in touch with who we are and where we are, and we love the personal touch that Heartbeat offers.”

Option Line (1-800-712-HELP; OptionLine.org) represents one of the central visions of Heartbeat International’s founding generation—comprised of pro-life ob-gyns and an unsung hero of the Holocaust—of a hotline connecting callers with help near them.

Since answering its first call in 2003, Option Line has responded to over 2.35 million contacts, including phone calls, live chats, texts and emails. The helpline answered over 243,000 contacts—650 every day—in 2015. Option Line also increased its web traffic in 2015 by launching a new iteration of OptionLine.org, and has expanded its capability of connecting contacts directly to local pregnancy help to over 500 locations.

Overall, Option Line refers to 2,250 pregnancy help organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“It’s incredible to think of the children who are becoming teenagers this year who may never have been if not for Option Line,” Bri Laycock, director of operations for Option Line, said. “We are convinced now more than ever that local pregnancy help is what makes the difference between life and abortion for so many mothers. That’s why our energies have always been—and will always remain—focused on connecting callers and website visitors to pregnancy help people near them.”

At 2,000 affiliate locations worldwide, including a presence on every inhabited continent, Heartbeat International continues to be the largest network of pregnancy help.

Hosting its 45th Annual Conference March 29-31 in Atlanta, Heartbeat International announced a leadership transition in early January, as Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., the organization’s president of 22 years, took on new responsibilities as Chairman of the Board, promoting longtime vice president Jor-El Godsey as only the second president in the 45-year history of the network.

Heartbeat International is a Christian, interdenominational association that provides networking opportunities and the support, training, and resources for members to be creative and entrepreneurial in their own communities, as the Lord leads. It is the largest pregnancy help association in the world, currently supporting, starting, and strengthening over 3,600 pregnancy help organizations—including international affiliates on every inhabited continent—to provide alternatives to abortion. Our members include pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and abortion recovery programs.

You can become a Heartbeat affiliate by downloading the mail-in form or using the online affiliation form. (Pricing is effective January 1, 2024)

In order to become an affiliate of Heartbeat International, you must review and agree to abide by the Heartbeat Principles and Commitment of Care and Competence:

[Download the mail-in form.]

Heartbeat Principles:

• Heartbeat affiliates propose and offer, through education and creative services, positive, life-affirming choices for the woman challenged by pregnancy.
• Heartbeat affiliates shall prefer and promote the value and place of sexual intimacy, children, and family building within marriage between one man and one woman.
• Heartbeat affiliates’ services are personal, confidential, and nonjudgmental.
• Heartbeat affiliates present alternatives to abortion without discriminating based on race, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Heartbeat affiliates shall not advise, provide, or refer for abortion, abortifacients, or contraceptives.

Affiliates are entirely autonomous in all other matters of policy and management.

Our Commitment of Care and Competence

• Clients are served without regard to age, race, income, nationality, religious affiliation, disability or other arbitrary circumstances.
• Clients are treated with kindness and compassion, in a caring manner.
• Clients always receive honest and open answers.
• Client information is kept securely and confidentially and only released with the client’s signed authorization or as required by law.
• Clients receive accurate information about pregnancy, fetal development, lifestyle issues, and related concerns.
• We do not offer, recommend, or refer for abortions or abortifacients, or contraceptives. We are committed to offering accurate information about related risks and procedures.
• All of our advertising and communications are truthful and honest, and accurately describe the services we offer.
• We provide a safe environment by screening and equipping all staff and volunteers interacting with clients.
• We are governed by a Board of Directors and operate in accordance with our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and stated purpose and mission.
• We comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements regarding employment, fundraising, financial management, taxation, and public disclosure, including the filing of all applicable government reports in a timely manner.
• All services are provided in accordance with pertinent and applicable laws. Medical services are provided in accordance with medical standards, under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician (or advanced clinical provider as permitted by law).
• All of our staff and volunteers receive appropriate training to uphold these standards.

Final language as approved by the Leadership Alliance of Pregnancy Care Organizations – 07/10/24

As war rages on overseas and natural disasters hit close to home, one thing is certain—women in those affected areas will still need the real support offered by the pregnancy help movement.

Life-affirming organizations are by no means immune to the damage caused by trauma, and yet, they often become rallying points in their communities for aid in addition to their normal functions. Affected pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and abortion recovery programs will need prayer and financial support in the weeks and months to come.

Heartbeat International offers you a way to help, through our Helping Affiliated Life-Affirming Organizations (HALO) fund.

Heartbeat affiliates help each other in many ways, including through our own affiliates’ generous donations. Please consider giving to the HALO fund today, as we come alongside our friends who will struggle to rebuild in order to provide women with the compassionate support they need in order to choose life for their unborn children.

As always, keep an eye on your inbox and check PregnancyHelpNews.com for the most up to date information.

Unless pregnancy help organizations are there to set the standard for true compassion and support for women, someone else will—namely, Planned Parenthood.

In the wake of disasters, Planned Parenthood and abortion activist organizations arrive not with needed material aid, food and shelter, but with abortifacients, including the abortion pill. These pills only increase the death toll in the darkest hours.

There is no better time than now to come alongside your brothers and sisters through the HALO fund. You can give online today.

Heartbeat collects information on organizations potentially in need so that we might be able to direct resources, if available. If you are aware of an Heartbeat affiliated organization in need of support, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with their information and situation.