History

The Woman’s New Life Center first opened in October 2001 as a counseling center and medical clinic located in New Orleans. First year services included professional counseling, ultrasounds for abortion-minded women, case management, referrals and material assistance for pregnant women, post-abortion counseling and post-abortion retreats.

By the end of 2004, the Center had become a Medicaid provider and hired a nurse practitioner to expand medical care, including pre-natal care into the 20th week of pregnancy and well-woman exams. Post-abortion retreats increased to three per year. A sexual health program was under development. Through an agreement with Holy Cross College, graduate level counselors began doing internships at the Woman’s New Life Center. A pro-life attorney was hired as the assistant director.

In late 2004, the entire staff became trained adoption facilitators. Over a four-year period, 200 unborn babies and their mothers were saved from abortion.  11 children were placed for adoption.

A MODEL CENTER

Within four years, the Woman’s New Life Center had quickly become a national model of a pregnancy center. In 2003, the Institute for Youth Development selected WNLC as one of four centers (from among hundreds) for a capacity building grant. This grant enabled it to become one of the first pregnancy centers in the United States to be certified as a Medicaid provider, allowing it to offer a prenatal program. It is still one of a handful of centers that provides full-time, professional counseling for women identified as abortion vulnerable; these counseling services are also provided to women’s husbands, boyfriends and family members as needed.

Pregnancy center directors from across Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Maryland, Florida, and Oregon visited WNLC in order to emulate its services and effectiveness. Crossroads, a pregnancy center in South Louisiana, was formed and modeled on the Woman’s New Life Center.

HURRICANE KATRINA

On August 28-29th, Hurricane Katrina and levee breaches around the city of New Orleans caused great devastation to the Woman’s New Life Center. Five feet of water stayed in the office for two weeks.  Roof damage allowed water to flood the back part of the office. The only salvageable items were pictures from the wall of the chapel and some office items stored on a high shelf. Everything else in the office was completely lost. The office itself had to be gutted from floor to roof, and the Center could not return to this location. Local fundraising at that time completely ceased, but our crisis pregnancy hotline remained operational.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

We offer you a safe environment and the pregnancy resources you need. Call 504.831.3117 or email our center to request a time.