Seeking Help For A Young Mom To Be...

[Cinderella_Babe]

I'm seeking some help and advice...

There is a young lady that is a friend and former co-worker of ours that is pregnant. She's 17...not currently in school or able to work due to problems that she has had during her pregnancy. She has no family here or nearby and to say the least they have never had much to do with her throughout her life. Her boyfriend is 20. He's been doing some side jobs here and there but all of a sudden seems not to want much to do with her for whatever reason. Personally, I think he's scared of becoming a daddy.

She was staying with a familly friend untill last week when they all of a sudden put here out because she apparently was not doing enough around the house to help out. Now here she is...Almost 8 months pregnant and living out of a hotel ( a really crappy one at the least!) with her stepdad who is working side jobs to pay the daily rent.

She goes to social services and the housing authority for help...There's nothing they can or will do untill she turns 18 which won't be untill next March. The told her the only thing they can do at this point is put her in foster care. WTF???

The hospitel apparently will not release the baby if she does not have a home to go to...It automatically will go into protective services. I'm sorry...I'm the type of person that if I can give someone the shirt off my back...I'm the first one to jump in and do it. Unfortunately, I am not in a situation right now to help this child out.

Does anyone here have any advice? Where to go? Who to ask? She has nothing for hereself or the baby for that matter. Where can she go for help?

TIA

[meangirl]

Originally Posted by Cinderella_Babe

I'm seeking some help and advice...

There is a young lady that is a friend and former co-worker of ours that is pregnant. She's 17...not currently in school or able to work due to problems that she has had during her pregnancy. She has no family here or nearby and to say the least they have never had much to do with her throughout her life. Her boyfriend is 20. He's been doing some side jobs here and there but all of a sudden seems not to want much to do with her for whatever reason. Personally, I think he's scared of becoming a daddy.

She was staying with a familly friend untill last week when they all of a sudden put here out because she apparently was not doing enough around the house to help out. Now here she is...Almost 8 months pregnant and living out of a hotel ( a really crappy one at the least!) with her stepdad who is working side jobs to pay the daily rent.

She goes to social services and the housing authority for help...There's nothing they can or will do untill she turns 18 which won't be untill next March. The told her the only thing they can do at this point is put her in foster care. WTF???

The hospitel apparently will not release the baby if she does not have a home to go to...It automatically will go into protective services. I'm sorry...I'm the type of person that if I can give someone the shirt off my back...I'm the first one to jump in and do it. Unfortunately, I am not in a situation right now to help this child out.

Does anyone here have any advice? Where to go? Who to ask? She has nothing for hereself or the baby for that matter. Where can she go for help?

TIA

She'll get a LOT of help going the foster care route. She IS only 17. As soon as she has the baby they will find affordable housing for them and help with all costs. In the meantime she will have a roof over her head and all the help she could need.

[Unbelievable]

Originally Posted by meangirl

She'll get a LOT of help going the foster care route. She IS only 17. As soon as she has the baby they will find affordable housing for them and help with all costs. In the meantime she will have a roof over her head and all the help she could need.

I agree. That would be the best route for her right now. When she turns 18 she'll have many more options.

[buddy999]

Originally Posted by meangirl

She'll get a LOT of help going the foster care route. She IS only 17. As soon as she has the baby they will find affordable housing for them and help with all costs. In the meantime she will have a roof over her head and all the help she could need.

Since the baby's Daddy is 20, social services should be able to help her obtain child support from him as well regardless of whether he wants to be a father or not.

Do the Crime - Pay the Fine. The 'Fine' in this case is child support for the next 18 years.

[baileydog]

If you have NOTHING, why do you go get pregnant. If you ask me, its a pretty stupid thing to do in this day and age. There are so many ways to protect yourself from this. For Gods sake, this is not the dark ages. I do not feel sorry for this girl, I truly feel for her baby. The only place she should go is the front of the line at the adoption place. Give that poor baby a chance.

[citysherry]

Originally Posted by meangirl

She'll get a LOT of help going the foster care route. She IS only 17. As soon as she has the baby they will find affordable housing for them and help with all costs. In the meantime she will have a roof over her head and all the help she could need.

If she is truly concerned with the health and well-being of her unborn baby, she will enter fost care.

[Candle Lover]

It sounds like foster care is the right way to go. Foster parents are very supportive and they know the system. This will also give her guidance on how to be a good mother since it doesn't sound like she has a lot of past experience to pull from.

[Unbelievable]

Originally Posted by baileydog

If you have NOTHING, why do you go get pregnant. If you ask me, its a pretty stupid thing to do in this day and age. There are so many ways to protect yourself from this. For Gods sake, this is not the dark ages. I do not feel sorry for this girl, I truly feel for her baby. The only place she should go is the front of the line at the adoption place. Give that poor baby a chance.

Now is criticizing her decision going to help this girl now? We've all made mistakes and can now look back and have the glorious 20-20 hindsight that will prevent us from making them in the future. While her circumstances may be dire right now, she may want this baby and, with a little help, can make a life for it and her. Buddy999 is right, there's a father out there and it's time for him to step up to the plate.

[mkd20012001]

Here are some numbers to places that might be helpful for her.

1. The Catherine Foundation 301-870-4911
Days: Tuesday - Friday
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Catherine Foundation is a crisis pregnancy center servicing Prince George's, King George's, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties. This agency offers free pregnancy screening tests; peer options counseling; referral for food, housing, social and medical services; maternity/baby clothes; post-abortion counseling; abstinence presentation for schools, churches and civic organizations; and free childbirth classes. The Catherine Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors as well as a Pastoral Board made up of ministers from local churches.

2. Birthright of Southern Maryland 301-475-5333

A private, nonsectarian, non-profit service offering help to all preganant women and girls in distress. Cost-free services are available to women with children and women with a problem stemming from or compllicated by a pregnancy.
Birthright also has cost-free clothing for children through size 4, some shoes and maternity clothing.

3. Pregnancy Care Center of Southern Maryland 301-737-4604

The Pregnancy Care Center of Southern Maryland has a number of services including free pregnancy tests, education on pregnancy and pre-natal development; temporary housing for homeless clients; education regarding abortion methods, risks, and alternatives; referrals for medical care, legal assistance, adoption, etc; special classes and support groups; maternity & infant clothing, car seats, cribs, and post-abortion lay counseling.

Business Hours:
Monday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., 1st & 3rd Saturday 9a.m. - 1 p.m.

4. Baby Talk Child Care Center 301-475-0200

Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: 7 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Location: Room E41, Leonardtown High School

Child Development Center for teen parents and parenting classes.

[TBone]

This is where she needs to turn...

http://www.stanns.org/