Pregnant Minors’ Home Has Own Pains

For some 300 pregnant teens in Orange County over the years, Mary’s Shelter has bucked red tape and funding problems to provide refuge from drug abuse, a rough home life, or living under freeways or in abandoned cars.

But the shelter, founded by members of a church prayer group more than a decade ago to give teens a healthy place to have their babies, is in jeopardy of closing because of dwindling funds from the state and county.

Mary’s Shelter, which operates on a $1.5-million budget, has lost $147,000 in maternity home funding from the state Department of Social Services. That money had been used to care for pregnant girls who came to the facility without county referrals.

Mary’s Shelter is the largest of only two group homes in the state for pregnant minors. St. Anne’s in Los Angeles, which provides shelter for pregnant women over 18, accommodates only three pregnant minors.

Meanwhile, the Orange County Social Services Agency has changed its foster child policy toward pregnant minors. Instead of placing some at Mary’s Shelter, as it has in the past, the agency is trying to place pregnant minors with relatives to provide a more familial environment, said director Michael Riley.

As a result, seven of the 18 beds at Mary’s Shelter are empty.

With the loss of government funding, Mary’s Shelter, which already has been operating in the red, is struggling to raise about $50,000 each month in private donations.

“I’m very concerned about the sustainability of this agency in the future. The tragedy is that the state budget crisis is locking out a desperately needed service,” said Karen Roper, Orange County’s homeless coordinator.

Mary’s Shelter, created in 1994 with six beds, has served girls as young as 12. They can stay until they finish high school classes tailored for them. The shelter also provides counseling and classes in finances and crafts. The shelter does not disclose its location to protect teens from those who may have abused them. The program has tripled in size and now occupies two houses.

Many of the teens come from homes where parents abused drugs. Some were kicked out after they became pregnant. Others have been sexually abused by relatives.

Although there are fewer girls, the shelter must have one worker for every six people under 18, including mothers and infants to keep its state license.

“We’re feeling a financial pinch from all sides,” said Barbara Nelson, the shelter’s executive director. “We are now considering downsizing or restructuring our programs. We are exploring the options.”

Among the options are closing the program to minors. Eight programs in Orange County serve young mothers, but none are open to minors, Nelson said.

“It could really limit us, but we don’t want to turn anyone away,” Nelson said.

One 16-year-old resident, whose baby is due in February, said the shelter has turned her life around. “If I were at home, I would have already dropped out of high school. I’d been into drugs. I wouldn’t be heading toward a career,” said the girl, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I would have been headed to juvenile hall.”