by Anne Batty

There is a warm, welcoming place in San Clemente where women can go to receive any help, support and/or services they might need when faced with a pregnancy, planned or unplanned. It is a bright and cheerful place beautifully appointed and staffed with directors, medical professionals, and volunteers who like to say: “Love is at the center of our Center.” And clients there have been overheard commenting about the calm and serene décor and the caring, support and services to be found there.

Located on Ave. de la Estrella across from the San Clemente Presbyterian Church, this special place is the Pregnancy Resource Center Medical Clinic. Headed by Executive Director and San Clemente local, Jane Wahl, this is a place where women can come to ask questions and gain information about any aspect of their pregnancy. It is a licensed medical clinic offering free pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, information about pregnancy options, counseling, parenting classes (open to both men and women) and much more, and all its services are confidential and cost free.

PRC’s beginnings were small. In 2007 Dr. Carol Barnes, a San Clemente Family Practitioner saw the need for a pregnancy center offering information and choices in the then burgeoning town. She and a business associate formed a 501c3 non-profit and began making plans to start a center. Shortly after, Dr. Barnes made contact with Jane Wahl, who not only had previous experience as director of a similar center in Oceanside, CA, but was a woman who had a crisis pregnancy story of her own.  

“It was always on my heart to work to help women in crisis pregnancies, so I volunteered at different pregnancy centers for 10 years while working in hotel management. There came a point in my life when I was able to leave the corporate world and work full-time as executive director at a pregnancy clinic in Oceanside,” Jane revealed. “A few years later, my husband and I moved to San Clemente where I was introduced to Dr. Carol Barnes and her vision to open a center in her hometown. I knew my story and experience could help others so I couldn’t wait to join Carol in establishing a center right here in San Clemente.”  

The duo started their services by offering pregnancy decision counseling and ultrasounds in a section of Dr. Barnes’ office on N. El Camino Real. Shortly thereafter, another office suite became available and they decided to open a free-standing pregnancy center next door to Dr. Barnes’ medical office. Then in 2012 they had opportunity to move to their present location on Ave. de la Estrella and expand their services to include a medical clinic offering free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, pregnancy decision counseling and more. With the larger space they had room to grow, and they are now equipped to provide their no-cost services to not only San Clemente, but Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Mission Viejo.”

“By God’s grace and provision,” as Jane stated, PRC has snowballed into a beautifully decorated center using its myriad of rooms for offices, medical services, private counseling, individual and group parenting classes, and surprisingly, a charming Baby Boutique. 

“We all love our baby boutique,” she remarked. “In between clients, we spend time there with our volunteers for training, fellowship, and praying for our clients.  It really is a blessing to our volunteers, and it makes each client feel special and loved.”

Remarking on the boutique’s function Jane explained that clients who take parenting classes earn Baby Bucks to spend there. New moms can “buy” new and/or gently used maternity and baby clothing, and baby necessities like diapers, lotions and more. They can even purchase a beautiful baby crib like the one on display there, and clients can also earn a brand-new car seat by completing a proper usage class. 

As a faith-based operation, PRC walks side-by-side with its clients from conception, through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Clients become friends and many return for advice and to share their lives with the staff. 

The center also offers fatherhood classes for the new dads, mentored by male parenting coaches. “The guys love it,” says Jane, “to meet with another man who understands what it’s like to be not just a father but also a dad is a real help to them.”

In addition to the services offered within the center itself, PRC also provides a Mobile Clinic dispersing the same core services available at the center. Complete with all male drivers, a medical staff and client advocates, this clinic is offered two or three times a week in San Juan Capistrano and parts of Mission Viejo.

Supported by over 12 churches in South County, as well as local businesses and organizations, individual donors and philanthropists, funding for this endeavor also comes from events like their Annual Gala held at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, and the Walk for Life that is traditionally held at the Dana Point Harbor, but in recent years has been moved to San Clemente, down Ave. Del Mar to the pier and also to the Outlets at San Clemente.

“In 2020, due to Covid, we had to cancel our events and instead, we opted for a “virtual gala,” so this year we were ecstatic to be back at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa,” Jane shared. “We had approximately 460 attendees and generous donations exceeding just over $410,000. And our 2021 Walk for Life was held at the Outlets at San Clemente. We had the highest turn-out yet, with over 300 walkers joining in the festivities. The management there was instrumental in making our Walk for Life a success. It is these gifts that fund our work and allow us to help women and families not just survive, but thrive. We are so blessed to have this financial support and appreciate the open arms and welcome feeling we receive from the people in San Clemente and our surrounding communities.”