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For some women experiencing a crisis pregnancy, finding options to help, may seem like yet another hurdle to overcome. A woman may have a child they are already parenting, or a soon to be newborn baby, or all of the above, and may be feeling without a ton of options for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a mother may just need a safe place for her child to be cared for, while she locates resources, and fully considers all her parenting options.
There is currently a real need for the kind of place that keeps a child safely cared for, while a mother considers her plans for her child, especially an unbiased place. One Missouri resource, The St. Louis Crisis Nursery, is an option for women in the city of St. Louis, that could possibly fill the temporary need for help with a child, while mothers decide the direction for their family.
The Crisis Nursery, is an independent, and non-for-profit agency that runs on donations and provides crisis care for families and children ages birth through twelve years. The nursery provides short term, emergency, live-in care for the child in need and has been working to preserve families and prevent abuse or neglect in the St. Louis area for over twenty years now. Any number of things, such as parental stress, homelessness, lack of food or resources, death of a sibling or parent, may qualify a child for assistance, and a temporary stay at the nursery.
While there the child will receive 24-hour care, meals, medical treatment, proper nutrition, therapy if needed and a developmental assessment. Mothers also receive assistance in the form of a 24-hour help line, parent education, follow-up services, and support group availability. Families who prove to have greater risks or issues may have in home visits, and intensive counseling available to them as well. Amazingly the nursery also has what it calls “The Umbrella Fund” that provides monetary help to parents with food, housing, utilities, diapers, prescriptions and other necessities. They also have a “Transportation Fund” that provides cab vouchers to travel to and from the nursery when you child is staying there.
I will say that am not too fond of the idea of placing a newborn, or a toddler in adoption agency foster care setting, while a mother makes her decision to place or parent. I feel this way because I believe agency foster care can sway an already unsure woman, who is experiencing perhaps a temporary crisis, to make a permanent decision for adoption that she may later regret. A mother needs to be sure about adoption, without risk of coercion to place her child.
A place to shelter a young child, while a mother finds help to parent, or reaffirms her decision to place a child for adoption, should be a place where those involved with caring for the child, have no investment in that child being placed for adoption. The St. Louis Crisis Nursery appears to be a possible place.
I was very impressed with the services made available to struggling families in the St. Louis area, through the Crisis Nursery, when I saw a story on a recent local newscast. While I have never used their services, and believe that an individual should be throughly informed before accepting any form of assistance for their child, this center does appear to offer some things that could benefit some families in crisis. As Coley said so well in her own disclaimer, the following information should be carefully considered, and may not meet the needs of everyone.
For me it was just good to know there are possibilities out there, and places worth looking into. Places that by all appearances seem to be working very hard at helping mothers and children in crisis, and giving the proper resources to meet whatever issues they might be facing.
While this center does not mention adoption specifically, it does appear to assist families facing crisis issues, like those that can result in hasty placements if parents cannot secure emergency help.
Other programs for women Coley has blogged about:
Refuge Home in Illinois
Real Alternatives in Pennsylvania
House of Courage
Lois Lodge
I’m curious if Mothers (or, even, fathers) who employ the use of a place like that would be automatically pinged by some place like CPS? (I have no clue. Just asking.) If so, I’d be wary of it simply because we’ve seen some bad stories come when CPS gets involved when a mother just really needs some time and place to make her own decision.
It’s all very confusing to me at times. That said, safe places? Good stuff!
Jenna, You are right that parents should be informed before using any program, but if women are over sceptical and wary of ALL help, then how do they get sucessfully past a crisis situation alone?
I truly believe that women who reach out for NO help, are far more likely to make a poor decison (like an adoption plan where none is needed) than those who receive some respite and assistance.
This particular nursery has a long local history if working to keep families together and help them through a crisis situation, a good thing in my opinion.
For those who are unsure of this particular nursery program, here is the link to program service discriptions…
Crisis Nursery Programs
and you may contact Development Director: Laura Coatney @ 314-768-3865 for more information.
I worked at the Crisis Nursery for 3 years and plan to return this summer. I just want to reassure all that the nursery is very much pro-family. We know it takes amazing courage to make the decision to find help. We do all we can help both the parent and child maintain their family unit. If you are wanting more information you can call the hotline. No identifying information is needed until you feel comfortable. You and your child can also take a tour of the nursery before using our services. After using the nursery for their crisis situation families could also participate in support programs that can offer assistance in the long term i.e. referral to other agencies, counsel, support groups etc. There is no harm in calling for more information so please do! The main hotline number in St. Louis City is 314-768-3201. There are also 3 other locations with a 4th on the way. God Bless you as you seek help for your family.
kimmygdog,
Thank you so much for sharing you knowledge of the center and their services!
Having a place for parents to be certain their child is safely cared for is an valuable resource.
Enjoy your return to service there! I am sure that some lucky families will benefit greatly from your compassion and care.