Ultrasound, extended hours in center's future

MOSES LAKE - Crossroads Resource Center in Moses Lake hopes to soon offer ultrasound exams to clients.

The center received a grant from Focus on the Family to help it achieve the status of medical clinic. As a medical clinic, the center will have the ability to perform ultrasounds.

"We're going to go from being a cottage pregnancy center to being a medical clinic," said Crossroads Resource Center Clinical Services Director Wendi Schield.

The $9,000 grant, called The Life Choice Project (TLC), is provided by National Institute of Family & Life Advocates.

"It is a difficult process, converting to medical clinic status," Schield said.

The grant provides everything from training and consulting, to a conversion manual, legal audit and assistance with infrastructure design, according to the institute.

"There's quite a bit to do before we actually have the machine in-house, but this is going to help us," Schield said.

Ultrasounds answer three main questions on any pregnant woman's mind, she said, including whether they are pregnant, whether the pregnancy is viable, and how far into the pregnancy they are.

"With the ultrasound, we'll be able to answer those questions right there," she said.

In addition to being excited about the grant, Schield expressed enthusiasm for the new location of the center. The center is located at 1555 S. Pilgrim, Suite C.

The location is more private than the old location, Shields said.

It is also closer to the high school.

"We're going to be extending our hours to be more accessible to the high school students once school starts in fall," she said.

Crossroads Resource Center offers clients free clothing, diapers, and parenting classes - which, if completed, allow the parents to receive a high chair, car seat, or crib. Parents learn about topics including nutrition, colic, crying and sleeping, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

For more information, call 509-765-4425, or visit www.pregnancywa.com.