REEVES — Unwed teen mothers now have a temporary place to live and raise their babies.
The Lighthouse, which began as a maternity group home for unwed mothers in June 2001, is transitioning into a child residential facility where young teens can live while they are pregnant and afterward.
A new 4,000-square-foot home opened its doors in Allen Parish in December as the state’s first child residential facility, according to director and founder Patsy Cavenah. The facility is licensed to care for unwed mothers up to age 18.
Cavenah said those in the home can live there with their babies until age 18 under a new law backed by state Sen. Ronnie Johns and passed by the Legislature last year.
“It’s such a humbling thought that God chose me as one of the people to help bring this vision forth,” Cavenah said. “Our focus has always been on aiding young, unwed mothers and their babies, but the maternity home only allowed the girls to stay for six weeks. “
The new facility will allow the new mothers to continue to live there after their babies are born while they grow independent and learn to make it on their own.
As a maternity home, the Lighthouse has provided a safe haven for over 250 young girls and women, ages 12-30, in the past 15 years. Cavenah hopes the new home will continue to provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of even more unwed mothers.
“Most of the girls I get are one step from prison or living on the streets,” she said. “This is their last opportunity. We want to give them a whole other chance to live here with their baby and have time to grow as a person and became a productive citizen.”
Many of the girls referred to the home have no family support or a place to live while raising their babies. Many have struggled with addiction, abandonment, abuse and neglect. Many are victims of rape, incest or human trafficking.
During their stay the girls are offered one-on-one home schooling, group counseling anger management and life skills classes.
Programs are also offered on newborn care, breastfeeding, childbirth, infant CPR and parenting skills, as well as sewing, scrapbooking and other crafts.
“We want this to be a place where the mother and baby can be healthy, whole and peaceful,” Cavenah said.
The home has five separate bedrooms where each mother can live with their baby.
The home also has a multipurpose room for watching TV and gathering; a kitchen; a children’s playroom; and a laundry/sewing room. An outdoor playground is under construction.
Braylin, 14, has lived at the home for a year and has a 5-month-old baby. “It’s like a home here, not like a facility or group home,” she said.
When Braylin first arrived at the Lighthouse, she said, she was a drug addict and angry at the world.
“This home has helped me to become a better person, not a child who was angry all the time,” she said. “I actually live life now and have learned to receive love and be a friend and leader.”
Braylin hopes to stay at the home with her baby until she turns 18.
“I’d love to stay here and get fully right before I leave,” she said. “It’s a great place to raise my daughter.”
Sixteen-year-old T’Maya, a runaway who is seven weeks pregnant, is the home’s newest resident. She arrived Jan. 20.
“I think the staff is really awesome,” she said. “They make me feel at home.”
T’Maya wants to stay at the home as long as she can because she feels safe and wants her baby to feel as safe.
Cavenah still stays in touch with many of the young women who have stayed at the home. Some are now staff at the home.
The original Lighthouse home, located adjacent to the new facility, is now the House of Avalon. It will house a healing ministry. Both homes rely on volunteers and donations to support their operations and programs.
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For more information or to donate or volunteer, visit the Lighthouse website at http://ift.tt/2jrT9xe.
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