Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri holds ribbon cutting, grand opening of maternity home
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri will celebrate the grand opening of its second LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home in Cape Girardeau Friday and Saturday.
The Little Flower Campus houses the LifeHouse program. It will be the eighth Catholic Charities location in southern Missouri.
A ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m.
A public open house will be Saturday, April 20 from 2-4 p.m.
LifeHouse is a residential program for pregnant women experiencing homelessness that offers individualized case management along with pre- and post-natal education and parenting and life skills training.
Organizers plan for the Cape Girardeau location to mimic the success of the program in Springfield. It has welcomed 141 healthy babies since it first opened in 2013.
Missouri historically has a high rate of both maternal and infant mortality. LifeHouse works to enhance post-partum health for mothers and infants, particularly those with a history of substance abuse. The program offers shelter, prenatal education, nutrition classes, and connects residents with prenatal care (OB) to ensure healthy pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, support for postpartum care and assistance in establishing pediatric care for children are provided.
Life house program administrator Sarah Dockins says all women in the Southeast Missouri region that are at least 18, pregnant, homeless, or at risk for being homeless, and sober for at least 30 days are welcome at LifeHouse.
“Our impact will be huge, we will be able to serve an underserved population of vulnerable, homeless pregnant women, currently there is no facility that serves as a transitional living facility for homeless women.”
The facility is equipped to house 15 pregnant mothers, and they can have 1 additional toddler. Dockins explains the different programs they offer.
“So during this program a hundred percent of our women will receive mental health services, be connected with obstruct gynecological services, as well as dental services and then also receive the care they need to overcome any mental health or substance abuse issues.”
LifeHouse has social work case managers, a registered nurse, a mental health counselor and support staff on site.
Missouri holds a high rate for maternal and infant mortality rates, specifically in mothers who struggle with substance abuse. Lifehouse maternity home hopes to act as a safe haven for women in crisis. Ken Palermo is the chief executive officer of catholic charities of Southern Missouri and shares who the program is meant to help.
“Women who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk for homelessness and are pregnant, we offer them services here which are full wrap around services which is anything from counseling services to educational skills or finding a job or anything they need to get a step up in life.”
Women can stay at the live in facility until their baby is a year old, but qualify for most of the program benefits for another two years after they’ve left the facility.
There will be an open house at the life house maternity home located on the little flower campus tomorrow April 2o, 2024 from 2-4 pm, and they are accepting referrals now.
The Little Flower Campus has rooms for 15 mothers along with a classroom, kitchen, community room and office space for CCSOMO Maternal and Family Programs staff.
The building will open to clients on April 29.
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