Pregnant Teenagers and Teenage Mothers Receive Help through Covenant House

Being a good mother is one of the toughest jobs in the world, and almost impossible when you are young, homeless, and without family. Teenage mothers and pregnant teens who come to Covenant House often have no child-raising skills or role models to guide them through the difficult task of motherhood. Yet what they lack in resources is almost always offset by an incredible sense of determination.

That is why our Mother/Child Program was created to help these homeless mothers and pregnant teenagers secure a brighter, more stable future for themselves and their babies.

Covenant House counselors motivate each mother to work hard toward achieving independence. Our counselors are available to help them create a plan for their future by lending an ear and offering advice, or sometimes being a stern voice, if circumstance calls for it.

Helping to end the cycle that creates homeless teenage mothers is a priority for Covenant House, so residents are required to attend workshops in parenting skills, child-bearing, single parenthood, and we work to make sure the girls understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle - both for themselves and their children.

'Residents are required to attend workshops in parenting skills, child-bearing and single parenthood.'

Since the cost of child care makes it virtually impossible for an uneducated teenage mother with no family support to either complete her education or hold down a job while caring for a small child, Covenant House's Mother & Child program offers free on-site daycare. Mothers can use our daycare for up to 8 hours a day, and accommodations are made for girls who work odd shifts.

The girls must also depend on one another - setting up schedules of shared babysitting. Living with other young mothers helps them bond, learn from each other, and gain a sense of family they have probably never experienced before.

With the support of our caring staff and their Covenant House peers, our young mothers move on from the program equipped with a plan and the skills they need to care for themselves and their kids - a remarkable accomplishment for once-homeless teenage mothers who might not have otherwise made it through.