Aim Women’s Center unveils new logo, expanded vision

NEW LOOK — Rebekah Cohen Morris, executive director of the Aim Women’s Center, spoke Thursday in Franciscan Square in front of a projector screen displaying the center’s new logo. —Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — Officials with the Aim Women’s Center on Thursday unveiled a new logo for the crisis pregnancy center, matching its expanded vision that includes ongoing support for pregnant and postpartum women through a proposed maternity home.

Aim Executive Director Rebekah Cohen Morris told the crowd at Franciscan Square how the 37-year-old center hopes to expand its services to meet needs seen in the community.

Morris said more than 4,300 pregnant women experience homelessness while in shelters, and nearly 9,000 more experience homelessness before, during or shortly after pregnancy. She said there are no nursing homes for pregnant women in Jefferson County and the closest one is about 90 miles away. She added that local shelters serve their purpose but do not offer targeted services

“We have stories of girls who have just come out of situations of domestic violence or human trafficking, or who have recently been released from prison, and yet they are still pregnant and have nowhere to go.” Morris said. “It’s not just a homelessness problem. These are women who live in a hostile and dangerous environment during pregnancy because they have nowhere to go. And our answer is that we need a maternity home. We need to offer something to women here in Jefferson County.”

Aim employees searched maternity homes “meticulously” and even conducted visits, Morris said. They have the perfect structure in mind, but they’re not going to rush into choosing a real location.

“We need a home that is perfect for these women – a place that is beautiful, a place where Stye can experience the love of Christ, where he can experience care, where he can rededicate his wholeness and grow and give birth to that child of a child and then survive the first year in this house, receiving constant support.”

Once this happens, Aim will turn to the community for financial support “perfect” The building has been found, Morris said, but the center is now asking individuals to pray and consider how they can help make this vision a reality.

The center – offering material and medical assistance to pregnant women, as well as support groups and classes – fights against abortion in, among others, “a more holistic sense”, in an effort to provide more services to postpartum women, Morris said. She added that these steps will require additional staff and resources, but it will be exciting to see how Aim can work with the community to achieve these goals.

Morris thanked the community, which she said has warmly welcomed her and her family since they moved from Doraville, Georgia, two years ago. She also thanked the Aim management board and employees, without whom none of the efforts would be possible, she added.

“Ultimately, we all do this because we want women to experience an interaction with Christ that saves them and changes the trajectory of their lives and future generations,” she added. Morris said. “We know there are many social services that can meet the needs of today or tomorrow, but the main reason we do it is to transform someone’s life – to help them experience that transformation through Christ. And if that’s not it, then just stick a band-aid on it.

The crowd of supporters also heard from Alice Imam, chairwoman of Aim’s board of directors, who spoke about the center’s past struggles and recent triumphs for “(love) our neighbors, no matter how small they are.”

Imam said Aim has seen almost complete staff turnover in 2023, with many leaving or being laid off as a result of the crisis “cruel” financial situation. The services offered were limited, making it difficult for Aim to continue its mission “saving children”.

But the Imam said that was all “he turned around” under the leadership of Morris, who, along with accountant and office manager Linda Nicosia, put together a “strong team” consisting of a Clinical Manager, Customer Service Coordinator, Registered Nurse, Certified Sonographer, and Customer Service Manager – with ongoing support from Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Starre.

The Imam said that also for Morris: “Aim offers now.” “abortion pill reversal” treatment, 3D and 4D ultrasound, baby boutique and mother support groups, as well as doula classes, counseling and parenting classes, and labor and delivery classes all provide simultaneous care for your baby.

Moreover, Aim hosts monthly community baby showers for its pregnant mothers and has made more community and government contacts to provide direct referrals, the imam said. She added that the center will launch an abortion recovery program, including retreats and weekly support groups, starting in January 2025.

In 2024, Aim has served a total of 350 women so far, and this number has already exceeded the total number of women in 2023 by 100, Imam said. In terms of attendance at classes, in 2023 the monthly rate was 0.6 people, and the total attendance at classes was seven people. This is compared to the year 2024 so far, in which the monthly attendance rate was 26 people and a total of 311 participants, and classes only started in April.

In 2023, Aim performed 183 ultrasound examinations, and this year it is already performing 223 of them, an average of nine per week. The number of women returning to Aim after giving birth for further support to date is 103.

“This number is extremely important to us because at Aim we are very committed to helping women go beyond their initial yes to life.” The Imam said. “We are here to give them and their families a real chance at a full life – materially, spiritually and socially.”

The Imam continued: “We are at war, and abortion is a very real choice for many of the vulnerable women we see every day. …Of the 277 women who came to Aim and had a positive pregnancy test, 126 were scheduled for abortion or were at risk. That’s a big number. After speaking with our team, 114 of these women, or 90 percent, chose life for their child. This is 10 percent higher than the national average for women’s centers providing similar services.

Aim employees realize this “Without Christ nothing is possible, but with Him all things are possible.” The Imam said. Staff members encourage this in a patristic way, ending each meeting with prayer with the women and a presentation of the gospel. For this reason, the imam said, many women came into contact with local churches and were baptized in the community.

For needs beyond Aim’s capabilities, Imam said the center has developed a variety of partnerships with other local entities, including Sycamore Youth Center, Ohio Valley Counseling, Earth and Vessels Counseling, Steubenville High School, Jefferson County General Health District, Franciscan Sisters of TOR , Franciscan University of Steubenville, Jefferson County Christian School, Franciscan Brothers TOR and local churches.

Similarly, Aim resumed its partnership with Rachel’s Vineyard, a post-abortion recovery retreat program, and established “continuum of care” between obstetrician-gynecologists from the Trinity Health System Women’s Health Center and Aim “so that people experiencing pregnancy-related problems in the emergency department can be quickly and discreetly referred to Trinity Women’s Clinic for more comprehensive and private care.”

Imam played a video explaining the history of Aim, founded in 1987 by Dan and Lynette Hawrot as a Pregnancy Maternity Assistance Center. The video also included patient testimonials, focusing on the perceived need for a maternity home.

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