Mother-Teen Daughter Luncheons Promote Dialog About SexAlthough teen sexuality is often portrayed as a well-kept secret between youthful peers, research shows that parents may exert great influence over adolescent sexual activity—but keeping the lines of communication open helps.

To that end, Women’s Center-Kettering is hosting Dream Keepers, a series of free mother-daughter luncheons designed to encourage communication about sex between female teens and their mothers. The series is paid for in part by a grant from the Community Foundation for Kettering.

“Mothers wield more power than they may realize to guide their daughter’s sexuality,” said Executive Director Vivian Koob. “Dream Keepers sharpens the listening skills of mothers so their daughters will find support to set healthy, positive goals. Teen girls, on the other hand, need practical, age-appropriate strategies to avoid the risks of early sexual activity.“

Manager Dawn Oppy said 20-30 percent of Women’s Center-Kettering clients are teens. “Early sexual activity poses a huge risk for pregnancy as well as STDs—and is linked to drug and alcohol use and dating violence. Our hope is that if mothers dialog with their teens early and often about sexual activity, the need for our intervention services may be reduced.”

Making the Best of Being 17 and PregnantVivian Koob, Executive Director

In this ministry, I meet women whose stories break my heart. I also meet girls whose valiant decisions and commitment to life make me proud.

Miranda Powell is one of those strong young women. Miranda discovered she was pregnant at age 17. Already 32 weeks before she had an ultrasound, abortion wasn’t really an option—something she’s thankful for now. Instead, Miranda waded through the tough and tender choice of adoption or parent-

ing. With support from Women’s Center-Kettering, the father of the baby, her mother and doting grandparents, Miranda decided to keep her child. Recently she and son Bentley, now 8 months old, participated in Babies Go to Congress, traveling to D.C. so she could share her story. That “eye-opening” trip educated Miranda in pro-life advocacy well beyond her years. I predict that she will continue to inspire others.

Meanwhile, Miranda is learning to navigate life as a teen mom. She’s taken several parenting classes through Women’s Center-Kettering, earning baby supplies for Bentley in the process. In some ways, she’s just another teenager, busily preparing for her high school prom, gradua-tion and enrollment in college. In other ways, life has changed for Miranda. Instead of hanging with high school friends, she now networks with other young mothers. “You definitely lose some friends,” she said, “but you do become more family oriented.”

Over all, Miranda calls it a good trade and a good life. And Bentley? He’s thriving. Healthy and handsome, he’s growing, standing, crawling, sitting up ... a baby full of life. Just as he should be.

May 2012New Life News

Mission: Empower individuals and families to make healthy life choices respecting the value of each person created by God.

Vision: By the grace of God, we humbly labor in the culture of life where chastity is the norm, marriages are enriched, children are nurtured, and abortion unthinkable.

Next luncheon Saturday, June 3011:30AM - 1:00PM

Delco Park Meeting Place in Kettering

Register 937.643.4673

Miranda Powell with Bentley

Are you aware of all the ways Elizabeth’s New Life Center programs add value to our region?We already know that our unique services, which include multiple prevention and intervention strategies, build healthy families and reduce the tax burden we all share.

Over the last decade (2001-2010), Ohio lost to abortion 333,184 babies who would have been vital members of our communities and

workplaces. Fewer babies mean fewer consumers and drain our region of taxpayers. That number would be even larger if not for ENLC. In addition:

We provide tremendous cost savings by keeping families intact, avoiding the costs • associated with divorce and foster care.Our fatherhood and parenting programs empower people to care for their own • families, averting child abuse and neglect costs.We help reduce the cost of unwed pregnancies through our youth development • services and sexual integrity consultations.

We’ll keep you posted as we progress through the steps to itemizing in real dollars the community impact of ENLC. We promise: You’ll be amazed.

Our Featured PartnerElizabeth’s New Life Center saves babies, empowers teens and renews families

St. Charles Makes ChangeWhen St. Charles Borromeo Church and School in Kettering decided to collect Elizabeth’s New Life Center Bottles for Babies as its Lenten project, neither organization predicted it would break giving records. But as the coins rolled in, it quickly became apparent they were onto something big.

Between the church, religious education department and school, St. Charles raised more than $18,000—primarily in coins—to benefit clients of Elizabeth’s New Life center.

“Such generosity overwhelmed and moved us,” said Director of Development Debbie Nieport, noting that it was the biggest Bottles for Babies campaign in ENLC history.

Parish members and school kids took home more than a thousand baby bottles during Lent and returned them filled with coins, cash and checks. Barb Garrison, development assistant at ENLC, took the coins, with police escort, to the bank where they were counted. “My van was literally filled with coins.”

Karen Chrystal, who organized the parish drive, said parishioners responded so heartily because Bottles for Babies provides local support for children, the kind of easy-to-do fundraiser with a cause almost anyone can put their heart—and money—behind. Although the school had previously participated in Bottles for Babies, making it a joint effort with the church increased exposure and impact. “I think it was just a meaningful project and a nice one for families,” Mrs. Chrystal said.

Picture this! How many babies will $18,000 save? This photo provides a visual clue. The number of St. Charles School kindergarteners who participated in Bottles for Babies is about the same number of babies who will be saved—36—because St. Charles Church and School made Elizabeth’s New Life Center the recipient of its Lenten project. Thank you, St. Charles!

Family Works’ Services for Parents AND Kids = Whole Families“You’ve taught Mommy and Daddy not to argue so much.”

These were the grateful words of one child whose parents recently participated in a parenting and relationship course through Family Works.

Funded through a federal grant, Family Works was created last January to combine the relationship classes of Marriage Works with parenting classes to teach communication skills between partners and children and help parents manage their children’s behavior.

Participants choose from three formats: 10-week classes, one-day workshops or individual education. While parents participate in adult sessions at the Family Works office on White Allen Avenue in Dayton, their children attend Educare on site in a specially equipped playroom. Kids learn the same strategies as their parents but through puppets, crafts, drama and music.

“Our clients often tell me that if you want help without judgment, Family Works is the perfect solution,” said Gayle C. Fowler, who manages the program. “Clients learn how to break through family dysfunction to healthy relationships. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, let’s press forward and create new possibilities for you and your family.” Classes are free and include incentives for completion. Call or register online at 937.262.7010, trustmarriage.com.

Gayle C. Fowler, Family Services Specialist

ENLC adds value to Dayton and Southwest Ohio

Are you aware of all the ways Elizabeth’s New Life Center programs add value to our region?We already know that our unique services, which include multiple prevention and intervention strategies, build healthy families and reduce the tax burden we all share.

Over the last decade (2001-2010), Ohio lost to abortion 333,184 babies who would have been vital members of our communities and

workplaces. Fewer babies mean fewer consumers and drain our region of taxpayers. That number would be even larger if not for ENLC. In addition:

We provide tremendous cost savings by keeping families intact, avoiding the costs • associated with divorce and foster care.Our fatherhood and parenting programs empower people to care for their own • families, averting child abuse and neglect costs.We help reduce the cost of unwed pregnancies through our youth development • services and sexual integrity consultations.

We’ll keep you posted as we progress through the steps to itemizing in real dollars the community impact of ENLC. We promise: You’ll be amazed.

Youth Development NewsElizabeth’s New Life Center saves babies, empowers teens and renews families

ENLC Wrap-upGoodbye, Dear Friends

Elizabeth’s New Life Center marked the recent passing of two former board members, Donna Thieman and Timothy Beach, with a mixture of regret and joy. They will be sadly missed, but their lives gave us hope. It was a pleasure to serve with them.

Donna Thieman Tim Beach 1956 - 2012 1959 - 2012

Your Vote Counted

Thanks to all our Facebook friends, Elizabeth’s New Life Center took fourth place in Focus on the Family’s Faces of Life video

contest with “The Story of Saundra and Lauryn.” We received $200 in free resources from Focus on the Family but, more important, our pro-life video was viewed by a broad audience. Well done!

Don’t Miss Any of our Online Activity. Get Connected!

Picture this! How many babies will $18,000 save? This photo provides a visual clue. The number of St. Charles School kindergarteners who participated in Bottles for Babies is about the same number of babies who will be saved—36—because St. Charles Church and School made Elizabeth’s New Life Center the recipient of its Lenten project. Thank you, St. Charles!

ENLC adds value to Dayton and Southwest Ohio

Administrative Offices359 Forest Ave., Suite 203Dayton, OH 45405

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Dayton, OHPermit no.235

New Life News Available Online

www.ElizabethNewLife.org

Dream keepersMother-Daughter

lunch with a compelling topic

Featured PartnerSt. Charles makes huge change one penny at a time

We Mean ValueHow ENLC does

more than just save lives

If the total that you spend weekly on groceries makes you gulp, I know a way to make that price tag a little more palatable.

Whether your supermarket of choice is Dorothy Lane Market, Kroger or Meijer, the dollars that you spend at any of these stores may not only feed your family but benefit Elizabeth’s New Life Center. Each of these grocery stores offers a program that allows your purchas-es to become eligible for monetary bonuses for Elizabeth’s New Life Center.Visit the store website to learn how to enroll:

• www.dorothylane.com: Click on Club DLM.• www.kroger.com: Click on Community Rewards.• www.meijer.com/rewards

Plus, if you search the Internet or shop online you can use GoodSearch.com or Good-Shop, and Elizabeth’s New Life Center will benefit, too.

I love good deals, and these are some of them—for you and Elizabeth’s New Life Center. Because of the generosity of our community partners, your grocery dollars will stretch far beyond your dinner table. From where I sit, that’s a bargain!

Blessings,

This Shopping Makes Cents!

1 2 3Debbie NieportDirector of Development