Christina Smith serves as the executive director of Birth Choice, which operates a pair of centers for crisis pregnancies. (JENNA TETER/The Texas Catholic)
By Mary Sedeño
Special to The Texas Catholic
When women find themselves in crisis pregnancies, Birth Choice is also there to answer the call.
In 2009, there were five abortion centers in the city and only one pregnancy help center. Birth Choice opened at the urging of Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, who wanted to give women seeking abortions more locations and opportunities to discuss other options.
The first Birth Choice, with executive director Fred Fink at the helm, opened in the medical district, across the street from the Lamar Robinson’s Abortion Advantage on Record Crossing. Fink was a member of the Knights of Columbus and had been involved with the White Rose Women’s Center for many years before leading the effort to start Birth Choice.
Since its creation, Birth Choice has seen several significant changes, including a second location, but its mission has stayed the same: to help women in unexpected pregnancies find answers other than abortions.
Birth Choice’s second location opened on Greenville Avenue in the same complex as Southwestern Women’s Center where abortions are still performed.
Last August, Fink retired and Christina Smith took the role of executive director. Smith said that she hopes to continue the great work that Fink started at Birth Choice.
And last fall, the Robinson clinic closed and the building was demolished and Birth Choice closed its facility on Record Crossing and consolidated its efforts at the Greenville location.
Smith, a nurse anesthetist, said she credits the Holy Spirit for her calling to Birth Choice.
Smith’s spiritual director, who is part of Regnum Christi, encouraged her to apply for the position being vacated by Fink. Smith prayed and felt called to take the position.
Smith is excited to see what the future brings for Birth Choice.
“In July, we are planning on getting our accreditation to become an Ambulatory Health Care Center,” Smith said. “This is significant because abortion advocates often say that pregnancy centers like us aren’t equipped to be helping pregnant women. Birth Choice will be the first in the state of Texas to have this accreditation.”
This means Birth Choice will have a doctor on staff and several nurses. Another program Smith is building on is classes for mothers called “Earn While You Learn.” These are classes that meet three times each week. They range from labor and delivery classes to financial planning classes, among other topics.
“For each class that mothers attend they receive baby dollars that they can use in our Baby Boutique,” she said. “We really want to empower these women and provide them as many resources as we can.”
Smith is excited to see what the future brings for Birth Choice.
“Even as abortion centers close, women will still have a need for us,” she said. “Since January we have seen over 500 women in our center.”
Birth Choice will be relocating to expanded space on the second floor of the building on Greenville Avenue.
“My hope,” Smith said, “is to expand to serve more women and to continue to educate our mothers on the many different issues that go against the culture of life.”
For more information on Birth Choice, please call 214-631-2402 or visit birthchoicedallas.org.
