For Irene Rivas, executive director of Harbor Pregnancy Help Center in Wilmington, the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion confirms that the center she leads is on the right track helping women avoid abortion, although she harbors concerns regarding President Barack Obama's position on the matter.

"It is scary with the new administration and what Barack Obama believes," she said. "We have to stay tuned on what his agenda is."

And Rivas is certain that the work they do at the center needs to expand, regardless of any government decision.

"We need to work harder and stay on our toes. We do not know exactly what our future is, but we will do anything we can to stay," said Rivas, who for the last 17 years has been directing, pro bono, the only pro-life center that offers bilingual services (English/Spanish) in the area.

Her own personal experience highly motivates the 63-year-old Rivas. Twenty years ago she suffered a miscarriage, a painful experience she did not overcome until a year and a half ago when she attended a Rachel's Vineyard retreat for women who have gone through abortions or miscarriages.

"You do not get over it," she said. Although she already had two children when she suffered the miscarriage, the experience scarred her for life. She refused to have more children.

The healing process of an abortion or a miscarriage varies from woman to woman, Rivas said. The emotional and psychological consequences can remain for a lifetime if no healing process is followed.

The Spanish-language retreat she attended offered her a chance to mourn her loss. She saw other woman go through the same process, like a 75-year-old lady who found relief after living for many years with the ghost of an abortion she had done at an early age.

Because she has dealt with her own experiences and seen others', Rivas is able to clearly communicate her message of hope to the clients she assists at the center, or potential clients she counsels through the 24/7 hotline, where she receives calls from across the nation.

"Sometimes I get upset because some women do not want to hear about the consequences they will face if they decide for an abortion," Rivas said. "I ask them, 'Do you know what abortion is? Do you know what you will go through?'"

Three of every five callers are women looking for abortion clinics; three or four of every 10 calls are from men. Sometimes men go through the same pain as women, Rivas said.

She is backed by a six-member board. Connie Ortega, a 15-year board member, also assists people who call the toll-free number and tries to persuade the callers to avoid an abortion, if that's what they are thinking about.

"I believe in life from conception to death," Ortega said. "I will do whatever I can to stop them from committing abortion."

Both Ortega and Rivas started volunteering with the center when they were part of a prayer group that got involved with Hispanics for Life, which had ties to the Harbor Pregnancy Help Center, previously known as La Cuna Pregnancy Services.

The non-profit pregnancy help center was founded in 1984 by the Knights of Malta to provide crisis pregnancy counseling and medical referrals to the surrounding community, especially to Spanish speakers.

Since Rivas took over after her predecessor moved out of state, the center has helped an average of 2,000 women per year. Open five days a week with three fulltime staff employees, its services include confidential counseling, free pregnancy tests, natural family planning information, parenting classes, and life skills educational classes.

The center also maintains a food bank and receives donations of baby and toddler's clothing and furniture that it gives away to the low-income families it assists. It is funded through a grant from the Los Angeles-based Doheny Foundation and through private donors.

Rivas sees her role at the pregnancy center as her ministry, and tries to challenge other people to get involved. "The greatest thing a woman can do is repent of her past mistakes, get closer to God, and make things right by helping other women," she said.

"I tell women to never lose hope as Christians. God gave them life and He is the only one who can take it away. I tell them, 'There is only one God and that is not you.'"

Kristen Rodriguez, 26, followed Rivas' advice to the core. She sought the center's services five years ago, when she thought she was pregnant, but the pregnancy test turned out negative.

For the first time Rodriguez learned about sexually transmitted diseases, and she decided to stay abstinent.

"The counseling session was time-consuming, but it was worth it. I kind of settled down after that and never had sex again before marriage," said Rodriguez, who eventually married and is now the mother of two small children. She volunteers at the center twice a month, while her 2-year-old boy and 9-month-old girl have fun at the center's playroom.

"I try to tell the young women who come here to think carefully what they will do," Rodriguez said. "Because it's not easy to raise kids."

To call the 24/7 hotline, call (877) 675-5900. For information on the Harbor Pregnancy Help Center and its services, or for donations and volunteer opportunities, call (310) 518-4135.