Blog
August 2, 2021
…Even when others intend to harm. Shauna* is alive today because of a courageous decision her own mother made over twenty years ago. A victim of […]
July 12, 2021
My husband recently said to me, “I want to help people; I just don’t want to get involved in their mess.” I chuckled because I understood […]
May 5, 2021
Lydia* came to our clinic for a pregnancy test and ultrasound. She’d lived abroad for a number of years and had just returned to the States […]
April 29, 2021
As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a good time to take a minute to honor and celebrate the amazing women who are making daily sacrifices for their […]
April 19, 2021
For the past several months, our Board and staff have been praying for God’s direction as we battle an increasingly difficult climate. Our society continues to […]
April 4, 2021
“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” Psalm 32:8 Hello, everyone! […]
February 13, 2021
Carrie had no job and a tiny infant to care for. She was fleeing an abusive relationship and she needed help right away. Her social worker […]
February 3, 2021
“I was at a loss. I didn’t know what to think, what to do or what to feel.” That’s how Nina* felt when she arrived at our […]
December 17, 2020
This lovely carol so beautifully captures the awe and wonder of the Christ child! What child is this that angels sing and shepherds guard his keeping? […]
October 28, 2020
Trina* is like many twenty-somethings. She bought into the belief that sex is the natural progression of dating and thought she was in a committed relationship. Imagine her […]
October 21, 2020
Marita* wasn’t feeling well. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but she knew she needed to see her family doctor. The diagnosis: “You’re pregnant.” […]
October 5, 2020
Guest author, Katherine Higgins, shares her experience of working at The Elizabeth House. Last month I started working at The Elizabeth House. After learning the program […]
August 17, 2020
Masie* recently visited our clinic for STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing. She brought a friend for moral support. Sharing with a stranger that she feared having […]
July 27, 2020
Social distancing has become the new norm over the past few months. Which means Care Net has gotten quite creative when it comes to finding ways […]
July 14, 2020
“Being in the same storm does not mean we are all in the same boat.” * We’ve all witnessed how the pandemic has highlighted inequalities. Some families are trying […]
July 13, 2020
Have you ever tried to keep a shameful or embarrassing secret? If so, then you know the feelings of anxiety and fear that cover you like […]
June 4, 2020
“I went to [another women’s clinic], but it was not at all like my visit here,” Lachelle* told the nurse at a recent appointment. She was […]
May 13, 2020
There is so much pain and suffering in our world and in our community. The past couple of weeks, calls to our clinic and maternity home […]
April 29, 2020
It’s hard to plan in these uncertain times. What is safe, or even possible, seems to change from day to day. But even in our uncertainty, most […]
April 15, 2020
Aimee is celebrating life, thanks to you! Aimee* and Ryan’s* relationship teetered between on-again/off-again. And when the pregnancy test came back positive, they were mostly “off.” […]
March 10, 2020
Amazing things happen at Care Net every day. Here’s one story I just had to share. A young woman I’ll call DeeAnn visited our clinic. DeeAnn […]
February 6, 2020
At Care Net, we envision a world where all life is valued and protected, and women and men have support to choose life for their unborn […]
January 24, 2020
Abortion was the only way out. Until an ultrasound changed everything. The news couldn’t have been more shocking. Kathy was sitting at a doctor consult for a tubal ligation when […]
January 22, 2020
Macy* and her new boyfriend, Dylan*, had only been dating a short time. Somehow things had moved quickly—too quickly, Macy realized—and now Macy was pregnant. Macy felt scared […]
January 20, 2020
With the New Year before us we’re excited about how God will continue to direct and move our life-affirming mission forward. You’ve likely heard our Mobile […]
December 9, 2019
God commands us in His Word to Love our neighbor as we love ourselves. At Care Net, we believe that we can love our neighbor by […]
November 7, 2019
We’ve had a lot of wonderful reasons to celebrate in the past month! Our mobile clinic is finally open and serving women in two locations: Fitchburg […]
October 22, 2019
Among my greatest joys in life have been the moments when a grandchild came to me to be picked up and held. It has touched my […]
October 7, 2019
“Do you offer parenting classes? I’ve called lots of places and no one will help me.” Corey* was desperate. He had been separated from his four-year-old […]
August 13, 2019
“I think I might be pregnant,” Carly confided to our staff in a text. Carly* was not old enough to drive, but she was old enough […]
July 11, 2019
Like most teams, we want to get better at what we do. In our case, that’s to build something lasting in the lives of those we’re […]
July 9, 2019
Imagine starting a new job and at the required physical learning you might be pregnant. That’s what happened to Jamie*. A baby didn’t mix well with […]
June 27, 2019
“My dad wasn’t always available because he drank a lot,” Toby shared. “Who did you go to when you needed something?” I asked. “Who taught you […]
June 11, 2019
By now you may have heard the news – medical services and life-affirming resources will be coming directly into neighborhoods throughout Dane County. The mobile clinic […]
April 30, 2019
If by matchmaking you mean connecting people to churches, then we do a lot of that. In fact, it’s something we are very passionate about. As […]
February 20, 2019
DeSean* sat alone in the waiting room, mindlessly fidgeting with his phone—but that’s not really where his mind was. In fact, his thoughts were consumed with […]
February 1, 2019
When a woman comes to our clinic for a pregnancy test, we ask her to check a box indicating her initial intentions. Abort. Parent. Adoption. These […]
January 17, 2019
What does the Bible say about abortion? The answer is: the Bible doesn’t mention the word abortion. That doesn’t mean it is silent on the matter […]
January 14, 2019
Anya* was a stay-at-home mom to baby Tara who was just a few months old. Anya and her boyfriend, Dan, were struggling to make ends meet. […]
November 30, 2018
*Malik’s dad lives only about 20 minutes away, but it may as well have been 20 hours. His dad was never present his life and their […]
November 9, 2018
It’s time. It’s time for Care Net to Go. To reach more, help more, and save more lives through the transformative life-changing work of the Holy […]
November 6, 2018
How can you best help someone who is unexpectedly pregnant and doesn’t know what to do? Helping starts before the pregnancy test turns positive by creating […]
October 16, 2018
Life hangs in the balance as I write. A precious tiny life may not take his first birth because his mother feels overwhelmed and trapped by […]
October 2, 2018
by Tanis Jean-Louis, Clinic Director “I need to be seen.” Alexis* called, desperate to see someone right away. One of our nurses talked with her over […]
September 18, 2018
How You Changed Jade’s Life Jade* was worried and incredibly nervous. Her family relationships were difficult and she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d have a […]
September 11, 2018
I remember my first banquet. Having lived in Madison for under a year, I was wary of the liberal environment I found myself living in. I […]
September 4, 2018
Gabriela* thought she was pregnant. And unlike many women we see, she was happy about it. But she started spotting and was concerned about a miscarriage. […]
August 28, 2018
We opened our mail and found this: A birth announcement with a sticky note thanking us for our care and our prayers. Lily’s mom wanted to […]
August 15, 2018
“I don’t know how I can carry this pregnancy. I have so much stuff in my life that’s going wrong,” Jayla* told our nurse. Jayla has […]
August 7, 2018
How long do you think it takes from the time a woman confirms that she is pregnant to deciding to have an abortion? A. 0 days […]
July 31, 2018
“I called (a women’s health clinic) and was told that if I was going to carry my baby to term, there wasn’t really anything they could […]
July 24, 2018
“I need an abortion.” When a woman tells us she needs an abortion, she often sees her options as abortion or parenting. Since her life circumstances […]
July 17, 2018
“If I’m pregnant, I’ll just have another abortion. It’s no big deal,” Kaitlyn* told the nurse. Kaitlyn has already had two abortions. She spoke about the […]
July 10, 2018
She Was Terrified to Tell Her Boyfriend. The year was 2011. Natalia* was afraid she was pregnant. She wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t want […]
July 3, 2018
July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. Flags will be prominently hung around our home and we’ll gather with loved ones to make the most […]
June 26, 2018
This morning, in their 5-4 decision in NIFLA v. Becerra, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld free speech rights for pregnancy centers. They struck […]
June 19, 2018
Give. Pray. Volunteer. Those are three ways that you can, and might already, be involved to save lives and transform hearts. In this culture where businesses […]
June 12, 2018
Why Being Dad Meets on Their Turf Maurice* had just discovered he was going to be a dad. He was eager to learn what being a […]
June 5, 2018
Thank you for giving life to Caden. “He’s alive today because of you,” Alyssa* told us. Alyssa recently came to our clinic with her five-year old […]
May 29, 2018
Celebrating Milestones Two babies who live at The Elizabeth House started crawling recently. Those were days of great joy! Their moms, and the other moms and […]
May 22, 2018
“My daughter is here today because of you.” Kendra* and her four-year-old daughter, Aubrey*, were at Spring to Life over Mother’s Day weekend. They came to […]
May 15, 2018
“I never want to go through that again.” Our nurses sometimes hear this statement from women who have made an abortion decision in the past. Recently, […]
May 8, 2018
Kimoni* and Ada* had recently moved to Madison when they suspected Ada was pregnant. They were married and excited to start their family. But being new […]
May 1, 2018
Did you know that we’re in public schools in Madison and surrounding communities? Medical professionals from Care Net give LifeWise presentations in middle and high school […]
April 24, 2018
Molly* has struggled with substance abuse all her adult life. She’s been in and out of rehab and done better and worse. The end of 2017 […]
April 17, 2018
On April 8th, HBO comedian and host of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver, aired a satirical “comedic” attack on pregnancy centers. We’d like to be able […]
April 10, 2018
Pierre* and Esther* walked through our doors one morning. They had driven an hour to get to our clinic. They were desperate. Esther was pregnant and […]
March 27, 2018
And Helped Bring About God’s Plan “My baptism meant I was serious about changing my life,” said Ashlee*. “It meant I stopped smoking marijuana and drinking […]
March 20, 2018
For the Uselman family, it started with Grandma Louise. Grandma Louise, as she’s fondly remembered, was a woman of great virtue. She had a love and […]
March 13, 2018
“Look!” Ryan* told our Fatherhood Specialist, holding up a black and white ultrasound photo of his tiny preborn child. He was grinning from ear to ear. […]
March 6, 2018
Amira* came to us to test for sexually transmitted infections, but as she met with our nurse, she asked for a pregnancy test too. When the […]
February 20, 2018
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, […]
February 13, 2018
Sometimes a Valentine looks like a meal and a rent check. Your love made a difference for Alessandra* and her son. Because of you, Alessandra has […]
February 6, 2018
If you’ve been walking with Care Net for a while, you may know already know this. It has been on our hearts to move our Fatherhood […]
January 30, 2018
When we talk about saving and changing lives, we really mean it. The essence of what we do every day makes the difference between life and […]
January 23, 2018
“All this is for me?!” exclaimed Jada*. Jada was looking at her new bedroom in The Elizabeth House for the first time. The fully furnished bedroom […]
January 16, 2018
The year was 1998. Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County was then the Pregnancy Information Center. This name was often abbreviated PIC. PIC also stood […]
January 9, 2018
Now Rose* Can Do Anything, Because of You A courageous and beautiful Rose, a 2017 graduate of The Elizabeth House, shared her story of hope and […]
January 2, 2018
by Liz Osborn — As followers of Jesus Christ, we all hold the conviction of serving and caring for the poor and needy, especially those facing […]
December 19, 2017
Megan* tried to hold back her tears while talking with our nurse, Billie Jo. She was sure she had an STD. She was very nervous and […]
December 12, 2017
“God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.” Genesis 1:27 The Sad Truth We […]
December 5, 2017
“Could we pray for you?” a nurse asked Jessica*. “Yeah, I love that you always pray for me here,” Jessica replied. As far as we know, Jessica is not a […]
November 28, 2017
10 days – 6 lives at risk This is hard. We have seen God answering our prayers — and your prayers. We have been asking God […]
November 21, 2017
“I have to tell you. I almost had an abortion with this pregnancy,” Taylor* confided to our nurse manager during her ultrasound. Taylor was a patient […]
November 14, 2017
Chloe*, our former patient and a new mom, has a special message for everyone who makes Care Net’s clinic possible. At Care Net’s recent banquet, she […]
November 7, 2017
Aiden is a nine year old boy who loves to play football, basketball and baseball and enjoys nature, hunting and farming. He plays the piano and […]
October 31, 2017
Caitlin’s* mom has been in jail since she was in middle school. Her dad hasn’t been in the picture since before that. Caitlin went to live […]
October 24, 2017
October is observed as Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church. We at Care Net are comprised of people from across denominational lines — Catholics and […]
October 17, 2017
Friendly. Helpful. Non-judgmental. Professional. Kind. These are words we hear over and over again on exit surveys that our patients complete. 99% of our patients responding […]
October 10, 2017
And now she’s giving back. A home is so much more than a roof and four walls. It’s a place where most of us find love […]
October 3, 2017
by Liz Osborn — At Care Net we focus on saving and changing lives. We desire to see all babies given the opportunity to live life […]
September 26, 2017
Shelby has made lasting changes for herself and “the love of her life” Do you remember Shelby*? When we first met her in 2014, she had […]
September 19, 2017
Where can you laugh with friends you rarely see, get tears in your eyes listening to a young mom tell her story, hear the latest about […]
September 12, 2017
This news actually is not new, however. We always have needed men. 31 years ago last month, Liz Osborn began as Care Net’s Executive Director. At […]
September 5, 2017
Billie Jo had an opportunity to see a Proverb in action recently. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right […]
August 29, 2017
“Your baby will not be normal. He won’t have a very good quality of life…You may want to consider abortion.” Unfortunately, this is an actual message […]
August 22, 2017
Stephanie* turned away from the sink and held out her hands toward Carter*, her not-quite-one-year-old son. Carter’s face nearly exploded with a smile as he exuberantly […]
August 15, 2017
“Prayer works!” exclaimed Kayla.* “Tell everyone who prayed for me, ‘thank you.’ The company offered me a job on the spot!” Kayla’s summer job is coming […]
August 8, 2017
What does saving and changing lives have to do with caring for the poor? We know that God commands us to care for the poor. The […]
August 1, 2017
Today it was my turn to be the second staff person in the ultrasound room. And it was my first time. The young couple watched with […]
July 25, 2017
Homelessness is a serious problem in Madison and throughout Wisconsin. 70 to 90 pregnant women are homeless each year in Madison alone, according to a 2016 […]
July 18, 2017
The numbers are out. The State of Wisconsin released their annual report on reported abortions for 2016. In Dane County, abortion numbers have held relatively steady […]
July 3, 2017
From My Heart By Liz Osborn It was an emotional meeting. Jenna shared her very personal and trying adoption story from 18 years ago with me […]
July 3, 2017
What does Care Net have to do with proclaiming freedom? Aren’t we about saving and changing lives? Yes! But we are about much more than saving […]
June 27, 2017
You helped Chloe make “the best decision she ever made.” Chloe* had been feeling really sick for about six weeks – so sick she spent most […]
June 19, 2017
It’s not every day that we have an opportunity to save a life. We hear stories of “regular people” being in the right place at the […]
June 13, 2017
Why Provide Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections? Because It Made a Difference for Lindsey, Nathan—and Someone Else — Lindsey* was worried about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) […]
June 6, 2017
“I’m Pregnant. I’m Overwhelmed. I Want an Abortion” What would you do if a friend or family member confided this to you? How would you respond? […]
May 30, 2017
The average woman who has an abortion: Is single Is between 15 and 24 years old Does not have any other children Lives in poverty Is […]
May 23, 2017
We’ve all read the studies about millennials. Or perhaps you are a millennial and would like to read some good news about your generation. Millennials are […]
May 16, 2017
May 14-20 is National Women’s Health Week. At Care Net, we talk about women’s health every day and in many ways. We equip young women to […]
May 9, 2017
This week is National Nurses Week, which is celebrated every year beginning on May 6 and ending on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. During this week […]
April 25, 2017
XYZ Awareness Month. No, that’s not actually very new, is it? Every month seems to be Awareness Month for dozens of causes. And virtually every day […]
April 18, 2017
Those Smiling Moms and Adorable Babies Wouldn’t Be There If It Weren’t For Our Amazing Volunteers We are blessed at Care Net to have wonderful volunteers […]
April 12, 2017
By Chari Suiter, RN Volunteer About a year and a half ago I felt God leading me to volunteer in some area of ministry. One day […]
April 3, 2017
by Liz Osborn — As we prepare to celebrate the joy and triumph of Easter, I found myself reflecting on the glorious events surrounding the resurrection […]
March 29, 2017
Volunteering at Care Net Hits Home for Katie Julie, our COO, received this text from Katie who volunteers in our clinic teaching infant CPR and first […]
March 21, 2017
Many of us know that a preborn baby is a new human being, entirely unique from his mother. And we value this preborn baby, and his […]
March 14, 2017
Celebrating 32 Years of Saving and Changing Lives This week we celebrate Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County’s 32nd birthday. On March 15, 1985 we […]
March 7, 2017
You saved a life last week. How often do you hear those words directed to you? Yet, because of your support, a vulnerable life was protected. […]
February 21, 2017
“Some days I just leave the school hoping that someone took what I said to heart. Other days I am totally encouraged by their comments.” Kylie, […]
February 14, 2017
Do middle school students really need to know about Chlamydia? Unfortunately, in our culture today — and in neighborhoods, and even in our churches — the […]
February 7, 2017
February is black history month. But do you know how it began? Its precursor was created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 and observed on the […]
January 31, 2017
All this marching…now what? Hundreds of thousands of people have descended upon Washington in the last couple weeks. Some to be a part of the Women’s […]
January 23, 2017
What if today’s headline read, “Man on the verge of discovering a cure for AIDS killed” and no one mourned? Or “16 year old girl killed […]
January 17, 2017
by Liz Osborn Remember the 1950’s sitcom Leave It to Beaver? Ward Cleaver always made it home in time for dinner and was key to ensuring […]
January 10, 2017
As we begin 2017, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on a few things YOU made possible in 2016. As we assemble our annual statistics, […]
January 3, 2017
There are many reasons why the women who walk through the doors of Care Net feel abortion is their only option. For Natalie,* it was a […]
December 19, 2016
Guess what is inside this package. Go ahead…take a guess. As unlikely as it seems, it is actually a floor lamp. Once unwrapped, it will give […]
December 13, 2016
Friendly and knowledgeable staff, very friendly and welcoming, welcoming and helpful. Comments like these about our staff and volunteers are the most common answers to this […]
December 6, 2016
Home for Christmas. It means so much to so many. For three new graduates of The Elizabeth House, it means moving into their very own places […]
November 29, 2016
As we begin the beautiful season of Advent, we have much for which we are thankful. Virtually every day, at least one person walks through our […]
November 22, 2016
You Have Probably Heard About #Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a day planned for giving back after we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and then begin the […]
November 14, 2016
When I found out I was pregnant, I never questioned whether or not I was going to have her. I always knew I wanted her, but […]
November 9, 2016
by Liz Osborn Excerpted from “Our Role in Redemption” speech delivered at the Annual Care Net Fundraising Banquet on November 3, 2016. Every life matters. Every […]
November 1, 2016
Recently I was talking with a woman I’ll call Leslie. Leslie told me that she wished more people knew about Care Net. Then she told me […]
October 25, 2016
Perhaps you’ve wondered what happens when a woman comes to our clinic, concerned that she may be pregnant. When she enters the reception area, each patient […]