Volunteer encourages life-affirming choices
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, January 22, 2007
Thousands will participate today in marches, vigils and memorials noting the 34th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
One Sioux City woman will illustrate her pro-life support Tuesday by volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, promoting sexual integrity by encouraging individuals to make healthy, life-affirming choices.
Ruth Massey has been a volunteer at The Alpha Center, a faith-based pregnancy resource center, for four years. As a retired registered nurse, advocate for volunteering and believer in the mission of the center, Massey, 58, thought she could provide encouragement for those in need of the agency's services.
"I'm a grandmother with teenage grandchildren and I wouldn't want them to go through an unplanned pregnancy alone," she noted.
Before volunteering, Massey was aware of The Alpha Center through publicity at her church, Morningside Lutheran, and friends who were involved in the ministry of the organization. Massey called the agency in 2002 at the suggestion of a close friend who told her of the need for volunteers.
Massey filled out a volunteer form and interests assessment and provided references. Deb Sypersma, executive director of The Alpha Center, explained doing that ensures volunteers agree with the pro-life ministry of the agency, which is nondenominational.
As a client advocate, Massey works with individuals who are at risk in the areas of sexuality and pregnancy. She will work with the client, biological father, parents and any other relationships in a supportive role. As a registered nurse, she also provides education about the changes in a woman's body during pregnancy, prenatal health and development, and nutrition.
"It's important our advocates are a neutral third party in an unplanned pregnancy," Sypersma said. "Our purpose is not to convince someone in a choice; our purpose is to provide them with enough information to make an informed choice."
Typically, Massey will have about three clients. Some of those are only interested in pregnancy testing. Some will be with her for the entire nine months.
"You really form a close relationship with those individuals," she said. "Many times it becomes a friendship."
But Massey was quick to clarify that her role is not intrusive, trying to interject herself into the lives of the clients.
"If they are comfortable with a relationship, then we proceed with one," she noted. "But I've noticed that when trust is there, sharing follows and then we just both enjoy getting together."
Sypersma said client advocates will typically stay with one client during the pregnancy, rather than assign another volunteer, because "It just avoids having the client go through the entire story of the unplanned pregnancy again, with someone new."
Even with a negative pregnancy test, Massey offers life-affirming suggestions, encouraging abstinence until marriage and information about sexually transmitted diseases. For women who choose to terminate a pregnancy, Massey and others provide post-abortion education and counseling.
All services are provided free to the clients, but there is a level of accountability, Massey said. Clients who participate in education, medical care and parenting curriculum can benefit in the Earn While You Learn program. Points are earned through participation and may be used to redeem points for a variety of maternity or baby items.
"It's one aspect of what we do that I really admire," Massey said. "We are not giving clients a handout when they come to us, we give them a hand-up when they work and learn with us."
Since 1987, The Alpha Center has ministered to thousands of individuals, about 500 annually. Both Massey and Sypersma agreed there are clients who come in for a pregnancy test and then are out the door, never to be seen again. Some clients just drop out after a while.
"The more responsible and accountable a client, the more in control they will feel," Massey observed. "I try and give them an opportunity to make positive changes in a non-threatening way. I think the best thing I can do is be supportive of their decisions."
Located at 4016 Morningside Ave., The Alpha Center is open 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on services or volunteer opportunities, call 276-0237 or visit the agency's Web site at www.alphacenter-sc.org.
VITA
Name: Ruth Massey
Hometown: Eveleth, Minnesota; moved to Sioux City in 1975
Education: 1966 Eveleth High School graduate; awarded an R.N. degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College in 1985
Professional: worked as a nurses' aide and ran day-care out of her home before getting her degree; employed at Mercy Medical Center until her retirement in 2001
Personal: married to husband Paul for 39 years; three children; nine grandchildren
How she's making a difference: by volunteering at The Alpha Center
One Sioux City woman will illustrate her pro-life support Tuesday by volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, promoting sexual integrity by encouraging individuals to make healthy, life-affirming choices.
Ruth Massey has been a volunteer at The Alpha Center, a faith-based pregnancy resource center, for four years. As a retired registered nurse, advocate for volunteering and believer in the mission of the center, Massey, 58, thought she could provide encouragement for those in need of the agency's services.
"I'm a grandmother with teenage grandchildren and I wouldn't want them to go through an unplanned pregnancy alone," she noted.
Before volunteering, Massey was aware of The Alpha Center through publicity at her church, Morningside Lutheran, and friends who were involved in the ministry of the organization. Massey called the agency in 2002 at the suggestion of a close friend who told her of the need for volunteers.
Massey filled out a volunteer form and interests assessment and provided references. Deb Sypersma, executive director of The Alpha Center, explained doing that ensures volunteers agree with the pro-life ministry of the agency, which is nondenominational.
As a client advocate, Massey works with individuals who are at risk in the areas of sexuality and pregnancy. She will work with the client, biological father, parents and any other relationships in a supportive role. As a registered nurse, she also provides education about the changes in a woman's body during pregnancy, prenatal health and development, and nutrition.
"It's important our advocates are a neutral third party in an unplanned pregnancy," Sypersma said. "Our purpose is not to convince someone in a choice; our purpose is to provide them with enough information to make an informed choice."
Typically, Massey will have about three clients. Some of those are only interested in pregnancy testing. Some will be with her for the entire nine months.
"You really form a close relationship with those individuals," she said. "Many times it becomes a friendship."
But Massey was quick to clarify that her role is not intrusive, trying to interject herself into the lives of the clients.
"If they are comfortable with a relationship, then we proceed with one," she noted. "But I've noticed that when trust is there, sharing follows and then we just both enjoy getting together."
Sypersma said client advocates will typically stay with one client during the pregnancy, rather than assign another volunteer, because "It just avoids having the client go through the entire story of the unplanned pregnancy again, with someone new."
Even with a negative pregnancy test, Massey offers life-affirming suggestions, encouraging abstinence until marriage and information about sexually transmitted diseases. For women who choose to terminate a pregnancy, Massey and others provide post-abortion education and counseling.
All services are provided free to the clients, but there is a level of accountability, Massey said. Clients who participate in education, medical care and parenting curriculum can benefit in the Earn While You Learn program. Points are earned through participation and may be used to redeem points for a variety of maternity or baby items.
"It's one aspect of what we do that I really admire," Massey said. "We are not giving clients a handout when they come to us, we give them a hand-up when they work and learn with us."
Since 1987, The Alpha Center has ministered to thousands of individuals, about 500 annually. Both Massey and Sypersma agreed there are clients who come in for a pregnancy test and then are out the door, never to be seen again. Some clients just drop out after a while.
"The more responsible and accountable a client, the more in control they will feel," Massey observed. "I try and give them an opportunity to make positive changes in a non-threatening way. I think the best thing I can do is be supportive of their decisions."
Located at 4016 Morningside Ave., The Alpha Center is open 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on services or volunteer opportunities, call 276-0237 or visit the agency's Web site at www.alphacenter-sc.org.
VITA
Name: Ruth Massey
Hometown: Eveleth, Minnesota; moved to Sioux City in 1975
Education: 1966 Eveleth High School graduate; awarded an R.N. degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College in 1985
Professional: worked as a nurses' aide and ran day-care out of her home before getting her degree; employed at Mercy Medical Center until her retirement in 2001
Personal: married to husband Paul for 39 years; three children; nine grandchildren
How she's making a difference: by volunteering at The Alpha Center
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Don wrote on Feb 5, 2007 3:39 PM:
proud to be pro-choice wrote on Jan 22, 2007 6:37 PM:
Sarah wrote on Jan 22, 2007 4:43 PM:
Barbara wrote on Jan 22, 2007 4:40 PM: