Mother Teresa Maternity Home

Mother Teresa Maternity Home was established in December 1998. It was a dream of Lucille Mosbacher, herself a mother of 15 children. Lucille worked tirelessly for right to life, believing that every baby has a right to live. The facility was a former convent, and when it was vacated and put on the market to sell, Lucille asked Fr. Sullivan, then pastor of St. Patrick Church, if it could be used to establish a maternity home. Fr. Sullivan thought this to be a worthy endeavor and took it off of the market. The home is non-denominational and open to any pregnant woman in need of assistance. Since it’s inception we have housed 180 women and seen many babies born.

It took a year for a team of volunteers, headed up by Jane Meuser, to ready the house for its first occupant who arrived in December 1998. The home can house six women and their babies and is staffed twenty-four hours a day. In addition to the Home Director we have a paid staff of eight part time workers. We also use volunteers on an as needed basis. We provide residents with meals and a private bedroom. We receive many donations of maternity clothing and baby items. These generous donations provide for the needs of our residents and their babies. If a resident is able to pay, we ask that she contribute 2/3 of her income but never more than $200 a month.

We are a drug and alcohol free home and we do random drug testing. If a resident tests positive for drugs upon entry, we give her a conditional entry into the home and a period of time to get clean. If they have a drug/alcohol history, they are required to attend five NA/AA meetings per week. We do periodic drug testing and if they test positive, they are directed to leave. They may also be dismissed for violent or threatening behavior or failure to comply with our House Rules or curfew.

They may enter the home at any time during their pregnancy and remain here up to three months after the birth of their child. Most keep their babies; but a small number have given their baby up for adoption. We encourage adoption as the best opportunity for the child, but we support the mother in whatever decision she makes.

Some of our residents have skills that can be used to support themselves. However, many do not. If possible, they are required to work or go to school. This is dependent upon their skill level and how far along they are in their pregnancy. If they do not have a high school diploma, we encourage them to study for their GED. We also encourage them to attend community college or the El Dorado County Regional Occupation Program (ROP). While in residency, they must develop a plan that will set a goal for their future life upon departing from Mother Teresa’s. They are supported by the staff and assisted by them, to accomplish whatever they are capable of accomplishing while in residency here, even if they can only begin with volunteer work.

All residents are required to have a local doctor and deliver at Marshall Hospital. They are monitored to make sure they keep all of their appointments.

Each day, residents have household chores they must complete i.e. cleaning bathroom, kitchen, vacuum, dust. Each person is given a night or two per week to cook and serve dinner.

Residents are allowed one overnight visit per week and are encouraged to visit their families and their other children if possible.

We work with other community agencies to avail ourselves of their services as well as take referrals from them. Some residents need mental health counseling, some need domestic violence counseling, or drug and alcohol counseling. When a resident comes to us we complete an extensive interview. From this interview we determine their needs and advise them of the services available that will assist them.

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