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This link extolls all the virtues of maternity homes. Yet, three young women in Utah were so desperate to escape from the home that they were in that they resorted to whacking the director over the head and fleeing. The mother of one of the young women was quoting as saying:
Castro said she knew her 16-year-old daughter didn’t like being at New Hope. Far away from her friends and boyfriend, the girl didn’t like not being able call or e-mail them.
Maybe her daughter would have been happier at one of those maternity homes that offers trips to the mall and newly appointed luxury free housing? However, she might still have been isolated even at the well-appointed maternity homes. Isolation is part of the package of many maternity homes. There is less chance of changing your mind and trying to parent when you are isolated and undergo constant indoctrination into the adoption option.
Adoption is sometimes the best of some tough choices for a young woman, but it should not be rammed down her throat. She has to live with the consequences of the decision. Although others have to live with her decision as well, ultimately she will take the brunt of the choice that is made. Forcing her to place a baby for adoption against her will carries the most severe consequences for her.
This link is an adoption.com article regarding maternity homes. It includes some history, and explains the purpose of maternity homes. Maternity homes were originally created to put all the bad girls together, to isolate them and keep them segregated from good girls. Oversimplification? Maybe. Many former residents of maternity homes have related the punitive aspects of these homes as well as constant indoctrination aimed at insuring the adoption option.
Young women in crisis pregnancies need guidance and support. However, there are better ways to help them rather than isolating them and plunking them down in maternity homes. Maternity homes, in general, are relics of the past. With some few notable exceptions, I think there are better solutions for young pregnant women than maternity homes.
The same mother of one of the runaway girls also noted that her daughter may have escaped from the home because she wanted to keep her child. If that is the case, I hope and pray that his young woman has found a safe place to hide so she is not forced to relinquish her baby.
I am not sure that maternity homes are a relic of the past. There are still familes who want to hide “the problem” from friends and family. I heard that the number of this type of home is increasing but have not seen hard numbers on that.
Not all maternity homes force adoptions. There are a few homes that do a good job of preparing young women to parent and encourage involvement of the fathers while using adoption as a backup (and only a backup) when parenting is not realistic. My family supports one in our area.
Janet
By relics of the past, I meant that idea is outdated. You are right though, they ARE still around and some believe we need more.
Homes that provide true options, clothing, education, parenting classes, etc. and honest info about all options can be helpful.