Volunteer Training Starts Soon!
If you know anyone who you think might be a good fit at CAPS, now is a great time to let them know. We’re looking for independent, computer-savvy multi-taskers, who are compassionate and love the Lord. We’re particularly needing to staff our UCSD clinic. Our next volunteering starts soon! Applications are due by 2/15. If you know anyone, you can copy and send them this info:
“The pregnancy ministry clinic I volunteer with has a training coming up, and I think you’d be a great fit. The training and volunteer information can be found here: https://www.friendsofcaps.org/volunteer.html. Training applications are due by 2/15.”
Also, if you’re currently receptioning with us and you would like to take the upcoming training to add to your skills as a Receptionist (highly recommend!), or to possibly transition to the Patient Care Specialist role, please connect with Julie W. or Cassie.
PACE (Post Abortion Care and Education)
We know that there are more patients dealing with unresolved feelings regarding their past abortion than there are referrals being made for PACE support. We want to increase the number of referrals, increase the likelihood of the patient connecting with Laurie, and streamline the referral process. The goal of PACE is to offer women who have experienced one or more abortions the opportunity to begin a healing process from the grief, guilt, and shame that follow an abortion.
New referral process for PACE:
- Prior to meeting with a patient, the PCS and the nurse review her intake forms in her online chart. The Medical Information Form has a section at the bottom of the screen that indicates the number of births, miscarriages, and abortions she experienced. The form also asks if she has experienced any physical or emotional struggles from an abortion or miscarriage. PCS, please review the Medical Information Form as well. Nurses, please communicate with the PCS if the patient shares having unresolved feelings regarding their abortion. PCS will make the referral.
- If she indicated on the intake form that she has had an abortion(s) and struggles from that experience, the PCS will say: “I know that it is possible for you to experience healing from your past abortion(s). We have a team member with CAPS name Laurie who struggled for years after having an abortion, experienced her own healing and is available to meet with our patients so that they can experience their own healing. I am going to make a referral for you to connect with Laurie. Is that okay?” Let’s give a gentle push to begin the path of healing! If she is against it and directly says “no”, then respect it and not make the referral. If she says “yes” or is ambivalent or undecided, please make the referral.
- If you are making the referral, tell the patient that Laurie you will reach out to her via text. You can also give the patient Laurie’s phone number that is used solely for PACE 619-314-6063. She can call or text Laurie at that number.
- After her appointment, text Laurie at 619-314-6063 to let her know that you made the referral. Simply say, “I just sent you a referral in AdvancedMD.” Also, send Laurie a message on AdvancedMD so it will be documented in the patient chart. Laurie will respond to your message after she contacts the patient. Laurie will reach out to the patient three times. If the patient does not respond to the first two texts, Laurie’s third text will say something like “I have found my own healing and want others to experience it too. I will respect if you are not ready at this time. This is the last time I will reach out. Feel free to contact me when you are ready.” Laurie will not push or pressure, just encourage steps towards healing.
Both Laurie and Devon have found that patients who want to be able to forgive themselves and find peace are very open to hearing about the forgiveness that God offers. Use gentle boldness to encourage her to seek healing!
Laurie is excited to grow our PACE services! She recently completed additional training and attends quarterly virtual trainings to help her connect with these women in a meaningful way. She can meet with patients in person or virtually.
Here is a story about a recent PACE patient:
A patient was initially seen for a PTV and ultrasound. She indicated to the PCS that she was undecided about this pregnancy and was struggling with a past abortion. She was given information about PACE. Her ultrasound was inconclusive and she made an appointment for a second ultrasound the following week. She called back a couple of days later and set up a PACE appointment to follow her second ultrasound appointment. When she didn’t show up for the second ultrasound, the receptionist reached out in an effort to reschedule her. The patient said she was having bleeding and believed she was miscarrying. The receptionist asked if she wanted to keep the PACE appointment. She said no because she knew that she would just cry and cry. The receptionist really encouraged her to keep her appointment with me so she decided to come. During her appointment, she indicated that she had decided to move to Las Vegas that weekend to stay with her mom and get away from her abusive boyfriend. We talked about her abortion experience and the need for her to heal. I gave her information to get in touch with Support After Abortion, a non-profit organization that has a lot of online resources to help women and men heal from abortion. I told her that the only way to truly heal from her abortion was through a relationship with Jesus Christ. After we discussed what that meant, she decided to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior! She left the CAPS clinic with a Bible with the date of her salvation written on the inside flap! When I told the receptionist later, she said, “Only the Lord knew that it was her day to secure her eternity!”
Baby Baskets
CAPS will be providing Baby Baskets to some of our patients when they are 7 months pregnant. The goal of the Baby Basket will be to re-engage our patients who have higher needs and to offer the support of our Social Services before the birth of their baby.
We are going to be offering “Baby Baskets”, which may be in a plastic basket rather than a bathtub depending on donations. These baskets will still be cute and stuffed with the same goodies! We will continue to provide diapers and wipes as well! For those of you who have been around CAPS for awhile, we need to shift our language to calling them “Baby Baskets”.
Again, the goal of the Baby Basket is to re-engage our patients who have higher needs and to offer the support of our Social Services before the birth of their baby. Therefore, not all of our patients will be offered a Baby Basket. If the PCS made a Social Worker referral for the patient when she came for her initial pregnancy test/ultra sound appointment, the PCS will offer these patients a Baby Basket. If the patient initially came to CAPS before the social work referral process was implemented, the PCS will be given guidelines to determine if the patient will be offered a Baby Basket. There will be a few months that we will be offering Baby Basket to both patients who are due and patients who are 7 months pregnant.
Patients will pick up their Baby Basket at their local clinic. The receptionist will ask the patient to complete a brief survey on the iPad. The survey will consist of questions on the patient’s readiness to welcome a baby and if they are interested in receiving additional support through CAPS. The results of this survey will be sent directly to the Social Worker. If they indicate that they are needing and wanting support, Devon will reach out to them within two business days.
Receptionists and PCS will be provided detailed instructions in a week. We are planning to implement this change starting March 1.
Material Aid
If a patient or non-patient calls CAPS for material aid, please follow these steps:
- Get their contact information – Name, phone number, email.
- Tell them someone will get back with them soon to discuss their need.
- Give their contact information to the manager you are working with and she will send it to our Social Worker, Devon.
- Devon will contact the person to assess their needs and connect them to other resources in the community. She will offer the Cultivate Program if it is a good fit. If the person is eligible for diapers, they will be instructed to pick them up at the College Clinic. Devon will let Cassie know when to expect them and diaper size.
We will no longer be sending them to College to pick up diapers without first making sure that Devon connects with them. The plan is to offer a one-time distribution of diapers/wipes, but then they will need to participate in Cultivate to receive additional diapers.
Donated Items
In the past, we limited donated items to new items that go in the Baby Baskets. With the addition of our Cultivate program, we are able to accept a variety of gently used items. We need these items to give to our Cultivate mamas as they complete each educational unit! This includes clothing for infants NB-12 months, maternity clothes, baby linens (burp cloths, crib sheets, etc.), diaper bags, baby carriers, bottle sets, basinets, strollers and more. We cannot accept car seats, cribs, beds or furniture.
Receptionists: Please make sure that the caller is aware that we can only accept items that are gently used with little sign of wear. Please ask what type of items they would like to donate and the quantity. Ask questions regarding the amount of space it occupies. For example, “What are the larger items that you would like to donate?” If the donation fits in one kitchen trash bag, they can drop it off at the College clinic during business hours. If they have larger items or multiple kitchen trash bags worth of items, please get their contact information and give it to the clinic manager. They will contact Devon who will contact the donor to determine the items to be donated and arrange the timing for the donation.
Patient Responses
Here are some more of our favorite comments from recent Patient Satisfaction Surveys:
- “Thank you for being so kind and open-minded and attentive to my specific situation/circumstances.”
- “Very friendly, welcoming & professional. We really felt at home.”
- “Incredible humans & extremely resourceful.”
- “Very personal staff. I felt like I was speaking to family members.”
- “How attentive all staff were- also the decorations, it felt peaceful.”
- “This place felt like a home, not just a clinic.”
- “It was great! From trying to set my appointment all the way till I left. Great care.”
- “It was very good, easy and supportive to myself and the father.”
Our patients are blessed by the work the Lord is doing through you! Keep up the great work and continue asking patients to complete our Patient Satisfaction Survey. Our goal is to verbally offer the survey to over 80% of our new patients (including STI), so we can get an accurate picture of how our patients think we’re doing and how we can serve them even better. We’re so close at 71% and need your help to reach our goal. Patient Satisfaction Surveys can be offered to all first visit patients who are not distraught at the end of their time with us. We are grateful for your help reaching this goal!
Prayer Requests
Dear CAPS Teams,
Just a quick note to ask you for prayer as we are in the final days completing the buildout of our new clinic near UCSD. We are excited to be there! We should be able to move in about March 1. I am sending out these requests to our prayer team.
Please help me pray for:
- Those who are called to pregnancy ministry to join our team;
- Training will meet our ongoing commitment to provide high quality care;
- Our monthly support will grow for sustainability of all clinics;
- College and university students (and others in need) would find us or another life-affirming clinic when facing unintended pregnancies;
- Connections would be made with colleges and universities;
- Our new commercial currently playing on streaming channels would reach those who truly need our services.
I am praying for you, with thanksgiving, as we continue and grow in what God has called us to do together. Thank you for serving our patients with the love He has given us. You are Amazing!
Julie