Sentara Health Foundation Supports Resource Mothers Program Through Grants
Life is difficult for all pregnant teens. But when you are a pregnant teen without adequate financial and social resources, life can seem impossible.
“I didn’t know what to do,” says 17-year-old Quionna Tynes. She has lived with her seriously ill grandmother since her mother died three years ago. Fortunately there was a program to help her.
Resource Mothers, a program in southeast Newport News, assists pregnant and parenting teens by providing them with mentoring, encouragement and supportive services to ensure they give birth to healthy babies and have the resources necessary to become successful parents. The goals of the program include reducing teen pregnancy, decreasing the number of low birth-weight babies and reducing infant mortality. Sentara Health Foundation supports the program through grants.
“I found Resource Mothers last July when I was four months pregnant” says Tynes, who will attend college next fall. “I really appreciate all they have done to help me.”
In addition to getting prenatal care, the program helped her find a summer internship and an after-school job through a youth employment service sponsored by the Office of Human Affairs. Her performance reviews have been outstanding.
A former member of the Resource Mothers program, Tonya Canada, became pregnant at age 16. Her resource mother encouraged and counseled her, took her to doctors’ appointments and helped her learn about diet and nutrition. Now Tonya is an IT specialist at NASA while working on her Ph.D. Her son is a successful 21-year-old businessman and father living in Arizona.
In addition to teaching the girls about birth control, smoking hazards and self- esteem, the program emphasizes the importance of staying in school. Last year 13 mothers graduated from high school and four went on to college.
Stephanie Spencer, a full-time employee hired with Sentara’s support, was a volunteer for more than eight years when she joined the staff.
“I was as single mom of three,” Spencer says. “I see myself in some of the girls I mentor. I want them to know that they don’t have to stop school and put their goals aside because they became pregnant.”
Learn more about Sentara Community Benefit.
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I was with the Resource mothers program, since my seinor year of high school. I did not get to see my resource mother Mrs. Bagley as often as I would have liked, but she and I had a good time when she came to check on me, my boyfriend (the father of my child), and my now healthy 15 month old son. We have been trying to stay in contact, atleast say “hello” every once in a while, but reciently my phone broke, and that was the only place I had her phone number (the office number). I remember the extention (“321″), I just do not remember the number to contact the office. Is it possible for me to recieve that number again?
Also I know I am not in the program anymore, since my son is a year old, but is there anyway I can recieve some help in finding a job? It is hard having to ask for help all the time from family, who should not have to take responsibility for my child. I’m just having such a hard time to get hired. I have a resume, and alot of experience, but no daycare, so I am limited to when my son’s dad can watch him (when he is not at school). I also do not have a license or a car, or money for the bus, so that makes things harder. I’m also planning on going to Thomas Nelson next year when my boyfriend (son’s dad) graduates.
Please help with atleast the first request.
Oh and one last thing. My son is growing so fast, I have a few things I would like to donate to your program, as a thank you. I have som jar foods my son did not eat, and I should have some clothes as well.
Thank you for your time.
~Jennifer K.