The largest pregnancy help clinic in Minnesota is once again expanding its life-affirming reach and impact.
New Life Family Services has a long, rich history dating back to 1973 with God’s provision and guidance bringing about growth to meet specific needs in the community and servant-minded attitude of the organization which seeks to partner with others to bring about a greater good.
Now, Woodbury Options for Women in the east Twin Cities area will become the sixth First Care Center in New Life Family Services’ network of pregnancy help centers effective January 1, 2026, the acquisition announced earlier this month.
The new partnership with New Life Family Services and Woodbury Options for Women will further deepen connections with local churches, schools, and community organizations to provide hope, practical help, and ongoing support to individuals and families facing pregnancy decisions and parenting challenges.
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Pregnancy Help News spoke with Tammy Kocher, executive director of New Life Family Services, and Almeda Smith, executive director of Woodbury Options for Women, about the new union, including some history and the benefits of bringing the two organizations together.
“Woodbury Options for Women is a strong, growing organization with deep ties in this community,” Kocher said. “They’ve built a trusted reputation for walking alongside women and families with compassion and care.”
“This is about coming together as two strong organizations to make an even greater impact,” she added.
Smith noted how Woodbury Options for Women is well established in the East Metro community.
“This partnership allows us to continue offering the care and services our clients trust, while expanding the resources available to them,” she said. “We truly believe we can accomplish more together than we ever could alone.”
Tweet This: This is about coming together as two strong organizations to make an even greater impact - Director on joining pregnancy help organizations
What is unique about the Woodbury Options for Women-New Life Family Services partnership is it’s the first time New Life Family Services has taken in another established pregnancy help center.
“It came about a little bit organically,” Kocher noted. “We were in talks for over a year to see if this was a good fit or not. It ended up being a really good fit—an alignment.”
The leaders of the two organizations saw synchronicity in both mission and vision.
“We operate similarly with our staffing structure in each center,” Kocher said.
Since opening in 2009 Woodbury Options for Women has offered compassionate, faith-based support to women and families navigating unplanned pregnancies. As the newest First Care Center, Woodbury Options for Women will be enabled to serve more extensively and empower individuals and families to thrive.
First Care Centers are the locations under the umbrella of New Life Family Services, with two in Minneapolis, Richfield, Rochester, Saint Paul, and now Woodbury.
Services include pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STI testing and treatment, Abortion Pill Reversal, adoption services, parenting education, and post-abortion recovery.
That extensive list of services is made possible by dedicated staff and donors. Within six months in the past year, a more than $4 million project in St. Paul was built and paid for.
New Life Family Services currently has 45 staff members and will expand through combining with Woodbury Options for Women and new hires to over 50. Smith will take on the role of Vice President of Operations at New Life Family Services, overseeing operations across the organization.
Kocher is grateful for how the Lord orchestrated the partnership and brought forth Woodbury Options for Women to fill in gaps to enable their ability to serve that community as well as staffing needs.
Smith is likewise thankful for the next level of services which will now be available as Woodbury Options for Women becomes First Care Woodbury.
Smith recalled meeting Kocher through a gathering of pregnancy center directors from Minnesota. In one-on-one conversations she would ask Kocher’s advice on the operation of and potential growth of the Woodbury center.
“Our board had been praying and considered a number of different avenues for expanding our services and meeting our clients’ needs better, while also using resources from our donors more efficiently.” Smith recalled.
This led to the gradual discussion with New Life Family Services about merging the ministries. One of the resources that Woodbury Options for Women needed was training for volunteers.
“New Life already has that program in place and churches we’ve always worked with have always been excited to serve in many ways,” Smith noted. “Some people are called to work directly with our clients and really make a difference who haven’t had that opportunity at Woodbury.”
These churches are not located near New Life Family Services’ current centers but are in the Woodbury area and as New Life Family Services volunteer training is available to Woodbury volunteers this will enable those individuals to step up to that calling to provide pregnancy help.
Client services will also expand.
“We’ll be able to expand into all STI testing and treatment, additional ultrasound options and abortion pill reversal and be open more hours,” Smith said.
“One of the most exciting things about the two organizations coming together is the efficiency,” she said.
Combining certain operations will open up space in the budget to add more medical services hours. The streamlining of costs will be a win for both organizations. That fact along with the positive reaction of board members and supporters from both ministries has fueled the enthusiasm for both directors.
“It’s where the Lord has us and we’re trusting Him,” Kocher said. “We want to serve more people and there is such synergy between the two organizations. We can do more together than separately.”
