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Care Clinic provides wide variety of services to those in need

Care Clinic is a nonprofit pregnancy help medical clinic and resource center for women and men. The organization has been serving people in Marquette County and beyond since 1973.

The organization’s mission is to empower women and men to make healthy choices for themselves and their children by counseling them with truthful information about their unexpected pregnancy. This is done by offering physical, emotional, spiritual, and educational support that equips the client in parenting and life skills and develops a heart attitude that values life.

There are two types of pregnancy centers: Those that offer medical services and those that do not. Since 2006, Care Clinic has been a Limited Medical Clinic. Ultrasounds are performed at Care Clinic in Marquette by one of three volunteer licensed ultra-sonographers and all medical services are provided in accordance with applicable laws and medical standards.

Medical services offered are under the supervision and direction of a volunteer licensed physician, Dr. Eric Jentoft who serves as the organization’s medical director. Six paid staff members, including a registered nurse and over 80 volunteers provide an array of services for the organization’s clients and supporters.

Services provided include pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, information, education, and peer-counseling on all options regarding pregnancy including materials on abortion and adoption.

Parenting and prenatal educational classes, mentoring programs for men, women and families, material resource support for families through the Family Resource Closet, as well as community outreach, awareness, and referrals.

The Care Clinic also offers specialized healing services that offer support for individuals who have experienced some type of reproductive trauma.

The Tranquil Tears program consists of perinatal bereavement services, to those who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant loss and is provided by individuals trained through the nationally known Resolve Through Sharing program.

Surrendering the Secret program is offered to those who have experienced an abortion and provides healing to those who live with shame and guilt.

We recently were able to purchase new curriculum on healthy relationships, fatherhood, developmental milestones and various other topics due to the generous grant from the Community Foundation of Marquette County.

Care Clinic partners with other community organizations such as Marquette County Health Department as well as with adoption and social service agencies. Referrals are made and the various agencies work together to determine appropriate services for specific client needs.

The Marquette and Sawyer Care Clinics are financed entirely through donations from individuals and foundations. No funding is received from state or federal government or from membership organizations such as Heartbeat International. All services are provided to Care Clinic clients free of charge.

Three primary fundraisers support the operation of Care Clinic’s two locations in Marquette and Sawyer. The 2016 LifeWalk event, which was recently held in Marquette’s Lower Harbor Park, was successful in raising the most money ever in the event’s 13-year history. Baby Bottle Boomerang is a year-round fundraiser that empowers the members of 45 churches throughout Marquette and Alger counties to give of their time, talent and treasure for the dignity and sanctity of human life. The churches take turns distributing clean, empty baby bottles to their congregations, then returning the bottles filled with cash donations and prayers for the preborn and their parents. The annual banquet attracts upwards of 400 guests. The event is by invitation, is free of charge due to sponsorships, and is the biggest revenue generator for the organization.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Last year, Care Clinic had 1,069 client visits. The clients are young women age 11 and older who are facing an unexpected pregnancy and are in need of information to make decisions about their pregnancy.

The organization’s website (careclinicmqt.org) offers a wealth of information on the wide range of services offered, plus educational information on related issues such as sexual health, abortion procedures, pregnancy and abortion recovery.

Care Clinic is located at 1213 N. Third St., in Marquette, phone 228-2273, and at 330 Fortress in Sawyer, phone 346-2606. Hours of operation are Mondays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Editor’s note: Cindy Asher is executive director of Care Clinic in Marquette.

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