Laura, 21, arrived at the Chalet Maternity Home in frigid February with 5 inches snow in Front Royal, Virginia. She was sent by cab from the hospital, after discharge. She had a high risk pregnancy in her last trimester. She had no place to go. Her mother had Alzheimer's disease. Her husband was in prison because of speeding tickets and drug abuse. She prayed that she would find a safe haven there until her son was born.
The Chalet, a non-profit Christian Family/Maternity Home, provides transitional safe sanctuary for homeless pregnant mothers, families and refugees. It serves pregnant women over 18 with or without children under five. In 7 years, the Chalet provided broad assistance to over 777 individuals, including 3 adoptions. Please contact them, if you would like to be on their adoption list. There is a great need for crisis pregnancy housing, particularly since two maternity homes closed recently in Virginia. The Chalet serves both the local area and North Virginia. Also, there are many calls from out of state.
In April, 2005, the Chalet celebrated a double baby shower for their guests, and were able to offer financial assistance from its donation sources. In November 2004, there was a concert with the talented Valerie Von Fange on the keyboard and the acclaimed Puny Pickers Blue Grass Band to raise funds for the living expenses.
The Chalet has a home health outreach on site, providing prenatal and postnatal care, and for minor acute illness. The Coordinator, Judith Schiminsky, is a Family Nurse Practitioner. Also, each client is offered Doula, or labor coach, services and a Bi-lingual, Certified Professional Midwife is available for consultation. Counseling services are available, especially for post-partum depression. Many of the patients are eligible for Medicaid, however, non-citizens and clients under 21 living with parents, must access charity health care though the local hospitals. Currently, the local Health Department has no pre-natal program, but the County Supervisors are considering funding it because of the high birth rate. The Chalet actively works with local agencies to identify health care coverage for uninsured pregnant mothers who are not eligible for Medicaid or FAMIS insurance.
In 2002, Chalet Cleaning Sewing, & Landscaping was launched as a home business venture to help the birthmothers become self-sufficient. The Chalet's families pooled their talents and pregnant residents were able to get light housekeeping jobs in client's homes. Mothers with newborns were able to bring their babies to work while cleaning. Other mothers who could sew, took in consignments from a dry cleaning company and received a percent¬age of the revenues. Sewing mothers could work and stay at home, saving the high cost of child care and transporta¬tion. The Chalet provides many educational opportunities. Some mothers are tutored to pass the GED exam, on driving instructions, to get a permit or license, and English as a second language. Also, the Chalet provides extensive case management. It also provides referrals to social services, credit counseling for more permanent housing, food resources, adoption counseling, work preparedness, vocational training, parenting, legal advocacy, and conflict resolution programs.
Counseling services are also available, in order to make significant life decisions, and to cope with anxiety and depression. Spiritual support is also provided through faith sharing sessions and bible study. Clients are also encouraged to attend church and social services programs and associate with other nuturing families and individuals. The clients are gratified to find that other persons really care about them.
To complete our story, Laura had a bouncing baby boy, and reunited with her husband who was off drugs. On Mother's Day, the Chalet provided the happy family with gifts for their newborn son.
If you wish to refer someone homeless and pregnant, or volunteer, please call the agency number at (540) 636-8472 or (888) 217-8127. If you wish to be on the Chalet's adoption list for prospective parents or donate to assist living expenses, please write Chalet Magnificat, P.O. Box 1012, Front Royal, VA. 22630.
