Grandma's House Newsletter

Offering hope to pregnant adopting and parenting teens in need of a safe nurturing environment

Grandma's House Mission Statement:
Grandma’s House is a non-profit, faith-based home and outreach that provides safe shelter to homeless and/or abused pregnant, parenting and adopting girls between the ages of 12 and 19.

Grandma's House Vision Statement:
We are committed to providing the essential nurturing resources, namely physical, emotional and spiritual support for abused pregnant or parenting teens. We emphasize wellness and healthy development of children, families and communities though education, guidance and spiritual support. The goal of Grandma's House is to help each young woman become self sufficient and able to make responsible decisions for herself and her child.

The Population we serve:
Our target population is homeless, and/or abused, pregnant teens (whether choosing parenting or adoption) and teen mothers with their babies. We also serve as an outreach to all pregnant, parenting and adopting teens in need of our services. We are the only home of its kind East of the Cascades addressing the needs of this special population.

Organization History:
After a 1992 Right to Life march in downtown Bend, a small group of people met to discuss the resources available to homeless pregnant teens in Central Oregon. They found there were none. Working together, they put action to their concerns and Grandma’s House was born. Since that time Grandma's House has evolved into a network of donors, volunteers, staff members, and community agencies all working together to help homeless and/or abused pregnant, adopting and parenting teens when they need it the most. Many of the founding group continues to be involved.

Ethics & Integrity:
Licensed by the state of Oregon as a residential care facility Grandma's House is accountable to the state to provide the best service possible for our clients. We are a proud United Way member agency, again, we are accountable. During our annual grant process the United Way selection committee will meet with us to go over our program and accounting. We always strive to go beyond what is expected.

Service Philosophy:
Grandma’s House is committed to promoting the well-being of those we serve. Some of our resident rights include the right to be treated with respect, the right to live in an atmosphere free of discrimination and the right to discuss any and all concerns in a safe and supportive environment. With a licensed clinical social worker on staff, Grandma's House is not only able to assist residents and advocate for appropriate access to education, employment and housing, but to address the fragile emotional and mental health needs that are so common to this special population. All services are private and confidential and shared only with those authorized by the client.

Introducing our 2007/2008 Board of Directors

Kristin Larson, President
Attorney

Mick Rupp, Vice President
SmithBarney

Janet Stevens, Secretary
Bend Bulletin

Bruce Cannon
Radio Personality

Jackie Henderson
Avion Water Company

Vito Daimio
North Coast Electric

Introducing our staff

Woody Medeiros, Executive Director
Amy Janney, Resident Coordinator
Wendy Lucker, LCSW, Counselor
Kathy Tabakman, Volunteer Coordinator
Linda Collins, Bookkeeper
LeAnna Hash, Night Supervisor

Contributions to Community in Service, Time, Commitment & Involvement:

Whether choosing adoption or parenting Grandma’s House offers hope, support and tools to young parents to make good life decisions for themselves and their babies.

At Grandma’s House we provide a safe and stable shelter, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for pregnant, parenting, and adopting teens between the ages of 12 and 19. All this is done with 2 full-time, 1 half-time, 1 quarter-time staff-persons, a live-in night supervisor and about 50 incredibly dedicated volunteers who log in over 3,000 volunteer hours a year.

We offer counseling, case management, and educational opportunities to all residents. Workshops include life-skills, childbirth education and parenting skills.

Our community partnerships include a maternal child health nurse assigned through Deschutes County Health Department, alcohol and drug counseling through Rimrock Trails Adolescent Treatment Services, education through the Bend High Teen Parent Program/COIC, parent partners from Ready Set Go for after baby, food via the Neighborimpact Feed the Need Program, volunteers through The Department of Human Resources & Retired Seniors Volunteer Programs as well as screening our volunteers and providing transportation through the Department of Human Services.

Our in-kind donations range anywhere from toilet paper to our web site provided by private citizens and businesses throughout our community.

When young mothers and babies transition from Grandma's House into independent living they become a part of our outreach program called ‘Under the Angels Wing’. There they continue to receive support and services just as if they lived in the home. ‘Under The Angels Wing’ is a part of our outreach to all pregnant and parenting teens in need.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention
We work in teen pregnancy prevention with a tool called Baby Think it Over. This Baby is computerized but totally wireless. Students wear an electronic ID wristband that helps the baby detect their presence. The baby is realistic with all of the appropriate actions of a real baby. Students actually feed, burp, and rock ‘Baby’ and change its diapers. We have taken this tool to the Redmond Boys & Girls club, Bend High School life skills class and loaned it to many high risk youth.
Grandma's Closet, an outreach to anyone in need that has an infant; info is attached.

Outstanding Professional Accomplishments:

Grandma’s House has been a proud United Way partner agency since 1992.

Grandma’s House has proven itself to be a viable and valuable resource in our community. In addition, as the only home of its kind East of the Cascades we are a great resource to outlying areas. We are often used by Department of Human Resources (DHS) Office of Safety & Permanency for Children as the model home for Oregon. To date we have provided housing for over 280 pregnant teens & teen moms and their babies. Some stay a night, some stay a year, all say that their lives were improved by their experience. They enter our program to carry out healthy full term pregnancies, learn to parent an infant already born, or to complete a successful adoption. They will gain the necessary skills for a smooth transition into independent living or a safe return to family.

Grandma’s House has been featured several times on Good Morning Central Oregon & Inside Deschutes County. We have also had several news articles in the Bend Bulletin and other publications.

We have been contacted twice by the Oprah Winfrey Show and interviewed for the Dr Phil Show during the Deschutes County Homeless Count in May 2006.

With a licensed clinical social worker on staff we are able to supervise bachelor and masters level students which brings Grandma's House to a new level as a teaching home. We have had student interns from Central Oregon Community College, Oregon State University, University of Oregon and George Fox University.

We just completed another kind of ‘new addition’ at Grandma's House. 6 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms have been added to our home, plus an interior remodel. This expansion/remodel has taken our facility from a 6-bed home to a 10-bed home - this count does not reflect our 10 baby beds. We have also added a private office area for counseling, a vital part of our program.

On behalf of our young mothers and babies we thank you for your unconditional love and support. Through your contributions – financial, services and donations - you are making a difference in young peoples’ lives every day.