A Message from the Director

To save children you have to start by saving their mothers. This is the key finding of a new report issued by "Save the Children." The report entitled "State of the World's Mothers" contends that the single most effective way to improve the lives of children in the next millennium will be to invest in programs and policies that change the status of women, and in particular, mothers. We need to break the cycle of violence, poverty and education that prevent women from realizing their full potential.

It seems this worldwide organization is coming to the same realization we at CityTeam Heritage Home have always known - to save the children you have to start by saving their mothers.

With your help, Heritage Home is assisting mothers to find the resources they need to become housed, educated, employed, confident and self-sufficient. Heritage Home mothers are active participants in their own progress - not passive recipients of services. The faith-building lifestyle at Heritage Home inspires and empowers our young mothers and mothers-to-be to face responsibility with grace and joy.

Last year, you helped launch what we now call the Healthy Baby Initiative, a program specially designed to support those mothers who need extra time after the birth of their babies to overcome the extreme disadvantages that first led them to the safe haven of Heritage Home. This extended time of up to 4 months allows for healing, bonding, and a well planned and supported transition.

The goals of the Healthy Baby Initiative are as follows:

• To give baby and mother a healthy start
• To decrease public health care costs by preventing catastrophic and chronic diseases
• To equip our moms with the skills necessary to become self sufficient

Since it's inception the program has enabled dozens of mothers to complete high school, receive their GEDs, reunite with family members, gain employment, recover from drug and alcohol addictions and reunify with other children.

Your partnership is so vitally important in the lives of the Heritage Home women . . .and their children . . .and their children's children. We are extremely grateful for your financial support, volunteer hours, and donations to this special ministry to hurting poor or homeless pregnant women. Thank you!

If you would like more information or would like to take a tour of Heritage Home, please contact Honili Sema at 408-294-1238 or hsema@cityteam.org

God bless you and your family,

Honili Sema