New Life and a New Heritage with Lifenet Tehama

With a new-to-them building, Lifenet Tehama is starting a new legacy as a shelter for first time moms. The Heritage House will open in January at 1008 Madison St., Red Bluff, above the space where Lifenet Tehama has already been offering love, provision and wisdom to expectant mothers and fathers. Lifenet Tehama, originally founded in 2018, had been renting the 1934 house when they were suddenly given the opportunity to purchase it. Generous donations helped significantly lower the cost to Lifenet. Susan Harms, the Executive Director of Lifenet Tehama, is beyond excited to be offering parents and their babies “a safety net for life.” A safety net can look like a listening ear, an accountability partner and/or welcoming arms after an upsetting decision. The Heritage house will extend that hospitality by offering expectant mothers, even underage minors, a place to stay during their pregnancy and after the birth, as they further their education, take parenting classes and meet daily with a case manager.

Lifenet’s Heritage House provides expectant mothers shelter, supplies and support during their pregnancy and after the birth.

Shelter, education and hope

Susan envisioned a house to help their “most vulnerable clientele—the homeless expectant mother.” She continues, “There are not many options for shelter in Tehama County that will help a young woman who is homeless due to her decision to choose life. There are many situations where these young women are forced into the streets if they choose not to have an abortion—either by a partner or a parent. Approximately 1 in 5 clients that I see at the center are homeless or without stable housing. Many make life changing decisions based on that factor, such as abortion. As a Director and Advocate there is nothing more discouraging than reaching out to the limited resources in our community and being unable to find housing for our clients. What an amazing opportunity we have before us to intervene in this crisis and offer shelter, education and a hope for the future to these mothers and their babies. It is our vision to offer these services alongside our current office hours.”

Love and support through the ups and downs

Before becoming the director of Lifenet Tehama in 2021, Susan and her husband were already ministering to a vulnerable population, who some would call “the least of these”, by subcontracting with the county to provide housing, food, clothing and encouragement to parolees. Susan says, “I called it ministry, as we were not making money. Rather, we were using our own money to help those who were considered ‘unlovable.’ That ministry prepared Susan for her role at Lifenet Tehama.

Susan relates, “Those women who I counseled during that season would sometimes relapse and show up at Lifenet Tehama homeless, pregnant and abortion minded. Recently I saw one of the women I counseled posting sweet pictures of her baby on social media. Loving these women through their ups and downs means they will trust us when they are in crisis.”

Understanding PASS

Susan knows exactly how it feels to be in crisis with no support. When pregnant with her third child, Susan’s then husband told her if she didn’t get an abortion, he would kick her out of the house. Susan, who felt like she had no options, proceeded with the abortion and suffered with post-abortion stress syndrome, PASS, afterward. The PASS symptoms didn’t show up until Susan was pregnant again, as these symptoms are much like post-traumatic stress disorder—showing up unexpectedly. Susan’s post abortive counseling was a lifeline, and she knew she wanted to offer that lifeline to others one day.

PASS symptoms, according to the Living Well Medical Clinic, are depression and emotional numbness, anniversary anxiety and feeling anxious or guilty around other babies. Suppressing the trauma, rather than seeking healing and counsel, can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, sexual escape and self-harm. If you recognize those symptoms in yourself or others, please reach out to the trained counselors at Lifenet Tehama for support.

Additional supportive services

In addition to their regular services—confidential pregnancy testing, options consultation and post abortion support—in November, Lifenet Tehama will partner with the North State Care Clinic to provide free sonograms once a month to their clients. This is through the Save the Storks program and their friendly “stork bus.” It would be best for people to make appointments ahead of time but they would love to fit in walk-ins as well.

Also, Thursdays at 4 will be a great time for little ones at Lifenet Tehama. Miss Ginger is planning weekly story time which may incorporate a variety of fun activities including movement, music and puppets. Lifenet Tehama wants to be a joyful, safe place for all ages.

A Bible verse, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord”, is Susan’s inspiration for all that they do at Lifenet Tehama. Just this week they had two pregnant 16-year-olds come by the clinic—one with parental support and one without. Those girls and the babies they carry are all precious in Susan’s sight and worthy of a chance to safely choose their path in life; not under threat from a parent or partner.

Susan shares, “We are a center who offers love, counseling and support no matter what choice the women make. A post-abortive woman who comes to us for healing and grieving afterward is less likely to choose an abortion the next time. We welcome them no matter what they decide.”

There are two Lifenet Tehama websites. General information can be found here while help for those in crisis can be found here. A confidential, listening ear is also waiting at (530) 727-9888. Lifenet Tehama is privately funded and welcomes donations toward regular services and the opening of the Heritage House in January.