Organization aids pregnant teens with no place to go

Organization aids pregnant teens with no place to go

Stephanie Romero and her infant daughter Serenity are all smiles today, but just a year ago, things were drastically different. "I was living with a foster mother and it was my third foster home since I was put back in care so it was tough," said 18-year-old Romero. Stephanie's foster mother could no longer support her, then Stephanie found out she was pregnant. "I had no idea what I was going to do, I kept thinking I have to find a job, I'm going to have to buy myself food clothes bottles I had no idea. I was so scared because I was on my own." But she wasn't on her own for long. Stephanie found Inwood House, an organization that has provided teen mothers in New York City with counseling, health and parenting classes since 1830. Stephanie moved into Inwood's residency house, and received around the clock care until her daughter was born. Each year nearly 200 teens who have been in foster care, homeless or in the juvenile justice system call Inwood House home, finding a safe haven when they have no where else to turn. With nearly 8,500 teen births a year in New York City, programs like the Inwood House are in high demand, so teens are interviewed to identify those most in need. According to the national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy, 70% of teen mothers never complete high school and 80% rely on public assistance. So Inwood House takes a holistic approach, providing study groups, job training, and personal development groups, in addition to maternal care. "Many of our young people are coming from backgrounds where they've had histories of family violence there's been poverty in their family there's been abuse, so they may not have had the best start in life, but that doesn't have to limit how far they can go," said Linda Bryant, Inwood House executive director. And Stephanie's planning to go far. She's starts college next spring, and is looking forward to what's ahead.