Nine Decades of Healthy Babies, Stable Families
When Layla* gave birth to a healthy baby girl, she knew it was truly a miracle.
Seven months earlier, she had sought help from Catholic Charities’ Prenatal Services. She was homeless, without medical insurance and did not know what the future would hold. Scared for her safety and that of her two older children, she had fled recently from her abusive partner.
Layla’s crisis illustrates an important aspect of Catholic Charities’ Prenatal Services: each woman receives vital medical care and case management to help foster the family’s stability.
“Prenatal care is one aspect — but women come to us with a variety of concerns that affect their family’s stability,” explained Linda Wiitala, program manager of Prenatal Services.
Support and Stability for the Entire Family
As is done for each woman who seeks prenatal services, Layla was connected with a social worker who advocated on her behalf. The two worked closely to help Layla find employment and an apartment for her family. Staff also helped Layla secure vital medical services for her older daughter, who had not been receiving consistent medical care for her congenital heart problem. Layla was so grateful for the support that she named her baby after her social worker.
Stories such as Layla’s are not uncommon — especially as the agency commemorates the 90th anniversary of offering prenatal services to uninsured, low-income women in the Twin Cities. Earlier this month, an anniversary celebration was held to honor several of the partners who help make Catholic Charities’ Prenatal Services possible, including St. Joseph’s Hospital/Health East, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
“I have heard so many community members say, ‘If it hadn’t been for Catholic Charities, I don’t know what I would’ve done,’” said Mary Ann Sullivan, director of Catholic Charities’ Family Services. “If it weren’t for our partnerships and generous Catholic Charities supporters, we could not have impacted nearly as many lives in the last 90 years.”
*Name changed for privacy.
