This month the Promise House Maternity Home in Little Rock welcomed its 215th baby. Since its start in 1991, this program of Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries has helped hundreds of unwed pregnant teens and preteens. But with the arrival of the last baby, the ministry will have a new mission -- serving adult single mothers and their children.
Leaders of the Baptist nonprofit organization announced this month that Promise House will transition into a Family Care Home and will remain in the same west Little Rock facility. The building is owned by Baptist Health and leased to the ministry at no charge.
David Perry, executive director of ABCHomes, said the decision to change the mission of Promise House maternity home came about because of a decline in admissions and referrals over the years. The ministry first opened in El Dorado and moved to Little Rock in 1999. Promise House offered pregnant teens and preteens a place to stay, prenatal medical care and support while deciding what to do after the baby was born, options that included adoption. Some of the girls served through the ministry were referred to Promise House by their parents or guardians, the court system and the Arkansas Department of Human Services. But through the years fewer girls came seeking assistance.
"Our population with Promise House had declined pretty significantly, from 38 girls in the early 2000s to 28 in 2009 and then 14 in 2013," Perry said.
Although the population rose a bit last year, the number of girls who stayed at Promise House through delivery was small. Of 18, only seven stayed until their babies were born.
Perry said that leaders decided the facility could be used to serve more people in need by switching to a Family Care Home offering assistance to adult single mothers with children, rather than maternity care for pregnant teens.
"This change has not been an easy decision," Perry said. "Our leadership staff and board of trustees have struggled with this for months. The Promise House has been a vital area of ministry for ABCHomes for many years."
The nonprofit organization opened its first Family Care Home in Jonesboro last year. So far they have helped 10 mothers and 16 children. The Little Rock facility, like the one in Jonesboro, will focus on providing long-term improvements in quality of life to mothers and their children.
"This is not a battered women's shelter or a homeless shelter," Perry said.
Women selected for placement in the program will go through background checks and interviews. Perry said the home will have room for five or six mothers and their children.
"We are looking for women who want to make these long-term changes," Perry said. "What we're looking for is prevailing goals in their life. It may be education ... or Job Corps or vocational training. We expect them to get a job and provide quality child care, to get transportation, and we'll help them with those things."
The Family Care Home will provide support and housing. A live-in housemother will be on hand and counseling will be offered to mothers and their children. They will also receive help in setting goals, budgeting, parenting, spiritual growth, homemaking, and building relationships. The goal is for the women to learn to live independently.
Jennifer Cloyde, who has served as a director of Promise House since 1999, will be the case manager for the new Family Care Home.
"The vision for this new ministry in a nutshell is to provide support and a safe environment during a time of great need and to promote self-sufficiency and independence and to share with them the love of Christ in word and deed," Perry said.
ABCHomes will also continue to serve unwed pregnant teens and preteens. Perry said they hope to recruit foster families to take in the girls.
"That need is still there and we hope to find foster families ..." he said.
ABCHomes is supported by churches and individuals. The organization has been caring for children and families since 1894 and offers several ministries throughout the state. Information is available online at abchomes.org.
Religion on 01/31/2015