Sister Nancy's Note: Four Ways You Help Change Lives
You're Invited! "In Her Words" Film, Discussion, and Reception
Please join St. Ann's Center on November 4 for "In Her Words," a short film and community conversation about mothers, homelessness, families and hope.
RSVP to this free event here.
Sister Nancy's Note: Four Ways You Help Change Lives
Dear Friend,
Thank you for supporting and engaging with St. Ann’s Center and the families we serve!
Last week, St. Ann’s Center received the wonderful opportunity to present during National Network for Youth’s webinar, “Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness: Supporting Young Parents and their Children,” attended by 400 organizations, peer leaders, and youth homelessness advocates nationwide.
National Network for Youth opened by sharing nationwide data that underscored the need for more programs like St. Ann’s Center and peer presenter Mountain Home Montana – programs that can adequately and effectively serve young parents experiencing crisis.
This one data point particularly jumped out at me:
- Nearly 44% of youth aged 18-25 who experience homelessness are parents, and approx. 18% of youth aged 13-17 are pregnant and/or parenting.
Throughout the webinar, and as I got to share our perspectives about working alongside young mothers and their children at St. Ann’s, I felt increasingly grateful for the donors and volunteers like you who care for the families who journey with us.
Quite simply, you help St. Ann’s change young lives.
This is because:
- You help us create an environment where young mothers can find their place and be supported in both of their emerging identities: young mother and young woman.
- You help us prevent family separation, keeping teen mothers together with their children – a critical aspect of St. Ann’s two-generation approach.
- You help us provide early learning opportunities through St. Ann’s on-site, licensed Child Care Center, including our Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms.
- You help us recognize and meet the unique needs of adolescent mothers and families who have immigrated to the U.S.
Tonight, 51 women and children have a safe and sound place to call home – including the eight women and their six children who live in our Grace House Teen Mother-Baby Program.
I am so thankful, and proud, of the work you empower.
Thank you and God bless you!
- Sister Nancy Downing
CEO, St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families
P.S. I hope you'll be able to join me for "In Her Words" - our short film screening, panel talk, and reception taking place November 4 at the Nolan Center at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School! More info here.
Our Mission
St. Ann’s Center helps mothers and children overcome crisis and achieve lasting independence and stability by providing a safe and supportive home, child care, education and employment assistance, and clinical social work services within a Catholic community that welcomes all.