The Timeline of Life Choices

Life Choices (formerly known as Pregnancy Support Services) was founded in 1984 by a committed group of individuals led by Jessie Schaeffer. Recognizing the need for a pro-life presence in Armstrong County, they established the organization to provide free pregnancy tests, guidance, and practical support to men, women, and families in the area. Jessie began with a phone hotline from her home, and by 1989, Life Choices had grown enough to operate from an office on North McKean Street in Kittanning.

Over the years, the ministry expanded its services to include parenting classes, men’s counseling, post-abortion support, and STD/STI testing and treatment. In 2002, Life Choices began presenting programs to promote sexual abstinence until marriage to students, and in 2017, it rebranded itself as My Choice Education. Today, the organization presents a range of Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) courses to over 3,200 students annually across more than 15 locations, including schools, prisons, youth groups, and social services.

In 2011, Life Choices established the My Choice Medical Clinic in Kittanning, which offers free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, and loving consultations for young women. The organization opened the second My Choice Medical Clinic in downtown Butler, PA, in 2012, followed by the third location on the edge of Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2013. In 2017, the vision for a Maternity Home in Butler County was realized, and a year later, the fourth My Choice Medical Clinic opened in Greensburg, PA.

In October 2017, Life Choices opened The Inn, Maternity Home, which served as a shelter for pregnant women. This ministry served women for more than 6 years. The Inn closed in 2023 in order to focus our efforts on the impact in the clinics and in the schools, but its essence continues to fill the ministry.

Life Choices is committed to providing comprehensive services to its community, including free STD testing clinics across all four medical locations.

In 2023, the Kittanning Medical Clinic and Executive Offices were moved to downtown Kittanning, allowing Life Choices to better steward the funds it has been blessed with.

Throughout its journey, Life Choices has touched the lives of hundreds of clients and continues to be an effective outreach center in the community.