"Raising Kids on a Shoestring"
FFL Unveils New National Resource Guide for Pregnant Women & Parents

Feminists for Life's new issue of The American Feminist^® magazine, entitled "Raising Kids on a Shoestring," is a holistic national guide filled with free and frugal resources, smart and creative solutions, and practical support that pregnant women, expectant fathers, and parents deserve.

"We've never said that being pregnant, placing a child for adoption, or parenting is easy, but we are going to do our best to make it easier," said Serrin M. Foster, President of Feminists for Life. "'Raising Kids on a Shoestring' builds on—and goes well beyond—our earlier resources like the 2001 'Raising Kids Cheap' issue of The American Feminist and the 'You Have Better Choices' brochure of 2008."

"Raising Kids on a Shoestring," the largest-ever issue of FFL's magazine, features eighteen articles with links to additional resources and support covering pregnancy, child birth, postpartum care; adoption information for both prospective adoptive parents and birthmothers; help for parents of children with special needs; housing, feeding, and clothing a family economically; and many other topics (see more below).

Supportive family and friends as well as volunteers and professionals will also want this directory of practical resources and solutions. In addition to pregnant women, expectant fathers, and struggling families, this magazine will become an effective tool for pregnancy care centers, social workers, military chaplains, parenting support groups, food banks and shelters, and an array of counselors and advisors at colleges and universities and in religious communities. Almost everyone could benefit from their own copy of "Raising Kids on a Shoestring."

"Three out of four women who have abortions cite lack of resources and support as a determining factor," said Foster, "and Feminists for Life is listening to women. This is the kind of help women who have abortions say would make a difference. This is what pregnant women say they need. This is the tool pregnancy resource centers are desperate for. This is what student activists say they want to put directly into the hands of women and counselors on campus. This is what families want."

Donations are being sought to support mass distribution of the national resource guide to those in greatest need, and for a new website at www.KidsOnAShoestring.com. "We hope this can become the primary tool for those who help pregnant women and parents, as well as the parents themselves," Foster said. "All levels of support are deeply appreciated and qualify for the year-end match if received by December 31, 2009."

In addition to the topics mentioned above, "Raising Kids on a Shoestring" features articles on using the library effectively, a fun and practical list of dos and don'ts for new mothers, infant feeding recommendations, qualifying for public assistance, strategies for reducing health care costs, "living green, saving green," childcare, transportation, education for parents, money management (including budget worksheets), and recreation.

If you have received this e-mail but haven't received your copy of "Raising Kids on a Shoestring," please check whether your membership is current. If you are unsure, e-mail your name and address to MemberServices@feministsforlife.org to learn your membership status. (Please let us know if you moved in the last year, and provide both old and new addresses.) If your membership has expired, please renew today!

If you have not yet become a member of Feminists for Life, join now and get BOTH "Raising Kids on a Shoestring" and "Pro-Woman Answers to Pro-Choice Questions" for $25 ($15 for students).

Or give the gift of membership and your recipient will receive both special issues!

Bulk orders of "Raising Kids on a Shoestring" are available at reduced rates. Nonprofits such as pregnancy care centers, clinics and doctors' offices, religious communities, and women's resource centers, as well as campus advisors and other counselors and community activists, can place online orders through Feminists for Life's website at www.feministsforlife.org/covetable_stuff. .$25 (plus shipping) for an "activist pack" of 5 copies, or just $75 (plus shipping) for a bundle of 25 copies.