Pregnant and parenting program gets a boost with a $2,500 grant from Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation.

New mothers receive a gift basket filled with Snugli®, baby blankets, Poohä bottle bag, formula, baby shampoo & powder, bibs, towel, wash cloths, and a pregnancy journal.

(Hollywood)—Parents can recall that one of the most joyful moments in their lives is that moment when their newborn baby comes home from the hospital to begin a new life in the warmth and security of the family. The baby is clothed in a warm blanket, bonnet and booties, and Mom or Dad is carrying a big bundle of diapers, baby clothes, ointments, and bottles.

Now picture a very different scene. The mother is a young runaway from a violent home. Often she is the victim of sexual abuse and has made her home in abandoned buildings, under bridges, or in a doorway. If she is lucky enough to make it to County General, she has nothing to take with her when she leaves.

With a $2,500 grant from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, the staff at Teen Canteen provides young mothers with the basic necessities to care for new infants. Funds from the Foundation are underwriting the "Baskets for Babies" campaign. As an incentive for creating and following a case plan set up between the Teen Canteen Case Manager and the client, pregnant young women and new mothers receive a gift basket filled with essentials such as a Snugli®, baby blankets, Poohä bottle bag, formula, baby shampoo and powder, bibs, towel and wash cloths, a pregnancy journal, and a brochure on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

If the number of babies born to clients who visit Teen Canteen remains about the same, we will serve nearly 40 young mothers in this year. At any given time, approximately 20 of our Teen Canteen clients are pregnant or parenting youths. The baby baskets will give these young women, barely out of childhood themselves, hope and support for the future of their children’s welfare.

Structure of the Program: The first part of the Baskets for Babies program involves prenatal education. Pregnant teens and their partners are invited to attend a prenatal program. Ideally, we have a class at least once a quarter, but it may need to be done individually as the situation arises. During this session individuals will learn about what is normal during pregnancy and what is something that needs immediate medical attention; they will become familiar with the baby's development over the three trimesters of pregnancy and they will learn about nutrition and exercise during pregnancy; what should be avoided during pregnancy; and the medical tests performed during pregnancy.

The second part of the program involves a parenting support group. Teens who recently had a baby and their partners, as well as pregnant teens, are invited to attend this support group, which will address issues that the new parents are facing. Some of the topics to be discussed are resources and issues surrounding caring for the baby, including a new mom and pregnant mom exchanging/mentoring/discussing the things that new moms can expect to face. Individuals who participate in the prenatal program will receive a "basket" upon completion of the session.

Our sincere thanks to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation for making the Baskets for Babies program possible.

--Michele Nuzzo and Laura Kassebaum