Amanda Raymond director for Pregnancy Resource Center. Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
Amanda Raymond is the new director who just started last month, at the Pregnancy Resource Center. She’s replacing former director Christine McDaniel who was called in a new direction. The PRC will now be offering ultrasounds too.
Board member for the PRC, Sandra Hughes told the Kern Valley Sun, that McDaniel notified the board a few months earlier. Hughes said, “We were heart broken because we love her. But we also knew God was calling her to a new direction. And then He brought us Amanda. And we love Amanda. She’s wonderful. She’s going to be a great new face for our center.”
Raymond had wanted to work at the center earlier, as director. However she was home educating her son, who is now grown, and graduated from High School. So she interviewed when the position opened again. “The Lord has blessed me and I’m very humbled and honored and proud to carry this position. It’s really an amazing opportunity.” Raymond said, “I’m honored to serve the community.”
The new director knows she has quite a job on her hands. She said, “I have big shoes to fill. Christine’s an amazing woman. And she’s been training me well.”
Sherry Nichols, president of the board said, “She (Amanda Raymond) comes to us with such high recommendations. We are so proud to have her. I thank you. You’re a great addition. And we look forward to serving you.”
Among changes occurring at the PRC is the option for an ultrasound, right here in the Kern Valley. Plans for this option were slow going, and were in the works long before McDaniel was replaced, as director. Treasurer for the board of the PRC, Mer Conner said, “One of the services that we’re just starting up is our ultrasound. Everything is set up. We’re just waiting for some appointments. We have a medically approved room. And we have a certified RN who’s coming up from the Bakersfield Pregnancy Care Center to conduct the ultrasounds. We’re really happy to provide that service because they’ll be able to verify pregnancy locally, which mothers need, usually, a medical verification to make an appointment with an OB, and also to sign up with WIC, and some of the other public assistance.”
Things got held up with the ultrasounds because the center had to coordinate with the nurse and they had to meet some medical standards, which the nurse was able to approve everything in the room for. Conner said initially the center plans to have ultrasounds just once per month. The board hopes the center would eventually be able to increase the amount of ultrasound days.
