Bridge Program Description

1. Community Problem / Need to be addressed The pregnant women who come to Visitation House struggle with a number of issues resulting in emotional, physical and psychological illness. Many are in recovery from substance abuse and have experienced domestic violence. Although many are receiving support services from area agencies and organizations targeting these issues, there is a further need for women-centered programming that would directly address women’s issues, building their self-esteem, assisting them in becoming better equipped to care for themselves and their infants. In addition, there is need to assist them to explore avenues that lead to further education, training and job readiness, guiding them toward healthy, independent living.

2. Target population

We serve homeless, battered and low-income women, 18 years or older, in crisis pregnancies who are some of the most vulnerable among our population and former residents.

3. Goals, Objectives and Timetable

We are in our fourth year of operation and since opening, we have assisted 46 women in transitioning to more independent living. With our recent renovation of the third floor, we are now able to accommodate 10 women at any given time, doubling our occupancy from previous years. Our goal is to provide more educational opportunities to a greater number of women and to continue offerings to residents who may still need supportive programming upon leaving Visitation House.

Our objective, in addition to providing basic needs (i.e. food, clothing and housing), it is our intention to expand our Life Skills programs with sessions that enhance the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of our residents, assisting them in their self-care and increasing the personal skills necessary to provide better care to their infants. We will also reach out to invite our former residents to attend sessions through what we have named the “Bridge Program”, which would significantly impact a greater number of women.

4. Collaborating organizations

• Church groups / Women’s Guilds / Knights of Columbus
• Operation Frontline
• Mass Citizens For Life
• Life Matters
• Problem Pregnancy Center
• Compassion Pregnancy Center

5. Future plan for sustaining this program

Visitation House is not state funded and so in order to sustain such programs, we intend to broaden our charitable contribution base through greater exposure at the local, state and national level. As we are networking, researching and developing new sources of funding, we are gaining recognition and credibility with our supporters.