Partner Agency Spotlight
St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home
St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home has provided a refuge for needy women and children in the Washington, DC area since 1860. From the start, St. Ann's opened its doors to the poor of all races and religions, a rarity in the 19th century. Over the past 146 years, St. Ann's has continued to be a pioneer in developing programs to reach our city's most destitute women and children.
In FY06, St. Ann's three residential programs provided a safe home and needed services to 305 vulnerable children and young mothers. Some were pregnant and parenting teens with nowhere else to turn. Others were children awaiting adoption or foster care placement, many of whom were in crisis because of mistreatment, neglect, homelessness, family emergency, or parental incarceration. Some of the children were handicapped or developmentally delayed youngsters receiving short-term respite care. In addition, our community day care program served 78 preschool children of area working families.
Here is an example of how St. Ann’s programs impact our community.
In January 2007, Amalia came to St. Ann’s thirteen years old and nine months pregnant. Nurses worked quickly to assess her medical needs and prepare her for the physical and psychological rigors of childbirth. Shortly thereafter, she delivered a healthy baby boy named Josiah. Coming from a background that lacked structure and guidance, motherhood did not come naturally for Amalia. Program staff worked with her diligently to develop basic care and nurturing skills, educating her about the many needs of her fragile infant. She enrolled in St. Ann’s high school, where Principal Pamela Wright reports that despite an academic record indicating that she was in the eighth grade, her actual grade level was closer to sixth. A native Spanish speaker, language barriers limited the possibility of her succeeding in the public school system. Accordingly, her final public school report card revealed multiple grades of D and F, with an occasional C. St. Ann’s immediately arranged for a personal tutor to help amalia establish critical study structure and routines, while the small class size at St. Ann’s high School helped her overcome difficulties with the English language. As a result of her hard work, supported by the Teen Mother Baby program, Amalia maintained a 3.0 grade point average this school year and completed the ninth grade this spring (June 2008). Josiah, her son, is a favorite among program staff-happy, healthy, and cared for by his loving mother.
St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home
4901 Eastern Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20782-3301
