Babies First

Click here to download a brochure.

Each Babies First program provides residential group care for up to four mothers and their babies. The long term goals of this program are:

- To strengthen the bond between the mother and child
- To build self-esteem and pride
- To promote economic self-reliance
- To prevent repeat pregnancies while single
- To nurture or reestablish links to the family and
- To help young mothers function at their full potential

Short term goals include meeting the day to day basic needs of both mother and child while offering them a safe, loving environment in which to live and grow.

Our child care workers, or house parents, are available at all times to assist the young mothers in carrying out the daily activities necessary to properly care for their infants. The primary care of the child is the responsibility of the mother, but our caring staff is there to support her in every way.

Our licensed and experienced professional supervises the program, and assists with counseling, educational programs, evaluations, and aftercare planning. Volunteers can be used as mentors for the mothers.

Children Served

We can consider for admission girls who are pregnant or have a young child. Though ages at each location vary, mothers' ages range from 15 to 24. Children can be age 0 to 4 or older in some cases. We take them in because their needs cannot be adequately met through families or other out-of-home placements. Check the program location page for information on that facility's specific age requirements (see Locations).

To Refer a Child

Referrals may be made by contacting the Chief Programs Officer/Vice President or the Babies First facility nearest you (see Locations).

Financial Needs

We depend on private contributions to pay for over half of what we need to care for these children. Other funding comes from contracts with state governments and Medicaid, though our Birmingham program is fully dependent on private gifts.

You can help make sure that this vital program for young mothers and their babies stays in operation well into the future. Give today.

Donations pay for everything these young families need to succeed – healthcare, food, clothing, diapers and other sundries, transportation, around-the clock guidance and supervision, educational costs and job training ... a hopeful future.

To learn more, contact our Director of Development or the Babies First facility nearest you (see Locations).

Volunteer Opportunities

Below is a list of ways that you can be compassionately involved in the lives of our young mothers and babies. To learn more, contact the Babies First facility nearest you (see Locations).

• Host Baby Showers for new moms

• Provide help with landscaping projects

• Provide help with playground development projects

• Provide mentoring for young mothers

• Help with job search and placement for young mothers

• Become a Local Church Representative (LCR) for UMCH

• Join the UMCH Speaker’s Bureau and help spread the word about our ministry!
  

Locations

We offer this program in the following locations:

Birmingham, AL
Selma, AL
Mobile, AL