Dakota Hope Women’s Clinic opens in Bottineau

Women in northern North Dakota who are experiencing challenges during pregnancy no longer have to travel to Minot for care and pregnancy services. Dakota Hope Clinic, a faith-based women’s health center based in Minot, opened their second satellite location in September in Bottineau. Dakota Hope Clinic offers anyone who is experiencing unplanned, unintended, or an otherwise challenging pregnancy free services, such as free pregnancy tests, a free ultrasound, and consultation regarding their options.

“We are a life-affirming center,” said Dakota Hope Clinic Director Nadia Smetana. “We do not recommend or refer for abortion. We do want to see abortion-minded women in our clinic because we don’t want them to make an abortion decision out of pressure from someone else and not really knowing what all the facts are about how it could affect them and their baby. We want to make sure that women are fully informed and then they can make their decision.”

Since its establishment in Minot ten years ago, Dakota Hope Clinic had been the only pregnancy center between Devils Lake and Sydney, Montana, in the north and north central part of the state. Most patients were coming from Minot or areas close to there, but not many from the rural areas. Because of the expense and the time commitment of travel, not many returned for follow-up visits.

“We know how important the follow-up is for them to participate in the program and get the free baby items,” said Mandy Crocker, a registered nurse with Dakota Hope Clinic. “The support that we can give them throughout their whole pregnancy and up to the time their baby is a toddler… we just weren’t seeing that. Because of the burdens of travel, we weren’t seeing many rural clients, but we knew there’s a need in those communities, so we decided to see if we could take our services to them.”

The Bottineau location is the second satellite office Dakota Hope Clinic has started. The first is located in Tioga. Both satellite clinics are about 80 miles from Minot. The centers are supported mainly through fundraising activities and private donations. Area churches also offer financial and spiritual support. In Bottineau, the local right-to-life group, made up of representatives from different Christian denominations, had been trying to find the right home for Dakota Hope Clinic to operate there.

“These folks here at Dakota Hope are providing hope and life to these women and these couples that are wrestling with very hard, real-day decisions,” said Father Jered Kadlec, pastor of St. Mark’s in Bottineau. “Why is it important? We’re witnessing to life. When we say Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, this is trying to tap into that mission precisely.”

The clinic operates in Bottineau Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.