The Blast Mar. 2023 Issue No. 10

FOUNDER’S CORNER

Hello from Better BedRest!

Spring is in the air as we continue to celebrate our 30th year of supporting moms with high-risk pregnancies!

Please enjoy this issue as we highlight the Collette Louise Foundation that is helping moms and families across the US.

We also want to ask that you reach out to us if you need any BBR business cards to have on hand or to hand out at your workplace. We want to spread the word so we may continue our mission. Email joanie@betterbedrest.org to get some our business cards.

We have funds available to provide grants to moms that are dealing with a high-risk pregnancy if they prove they’ve had to stop/reduce their working situation due to their pregnancy.

What’s Inside:

-Founder’s Corner

BBR is 30 years old!

-Caller’s Voice:

Shana S. – A Caller’s Story

-The Colette Louise Tisdahl

Foundation

–Community Outreach

Maternity Home References

Wishing everyone a wonderful spring and make sure you don’t forget to smell the flowers!

Sincerely,

Joanie Reisfeld

Founder

Better BedRest, Inc

CALLER’S VOICE

Dear Better Bedrest Family,

I was so blessed to be a part of the Better Bedrest Program. I was the recipient of a grant to help pay my storage fee since I lost my home due to my high risk pregnancy. They also paid my cell phone bill. Without their help, I would have lost all my belongings and would have no way to communicate while living in a shelter. Better BedRest was my support system that helped me through this difficult time. I am extremely grateful for the weekly phone calls and blessed for their support.

Shana S.

COLETTE LOUISE TISDAHL

FOUNDATION

A note from Michelle Valiukenas,
Founder and Executive Director:

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation was created in memory of our daughter who died at nine days old. Our mission is to improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, as well as aid in the grieving process through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Financial assistance is available nationwide to families in crisis due to high-risk or complicated pregnancy, NICU stay, or loss. For more information, to apply, or to donate, please visit www.colettelouise.com.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

We have generated a list of maternity homes that we have distributed as a resource for our callers. We hope this might be of help to others:

St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth and

Families

4901 Eastern Avenue

Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

http://www.stanns.org/

*Teen Mother/Baby

*Transitional Housing

If you are a local pregnant or parenting young woman facing

homelessness, St. Ann’s Center is just a phone call away. (301) 559-5500

Social Worker is a good point of contact –

shaneen.alvarez@stanns.org

Notes: Three levels to this program. They have a teen unit with 24/7 supervision. Hope House also has supervision, 15

rooms with 5 on 3 units. Clients have their own room, can make their own meals for themselves and children. These

clients can be working and/or in school. Faith House has 8 furnished apartments. There is a shared kitchen and lounge.

There are social workers there to help with employment counseling, GED instruction and clients can stay up to 2 years. Once accepted, they have 90 days to get a job. They pay a small amount of rent once they have a job.

Gabriel Network is a Christian ministry of loving service to women and families challenged with a crisis pregnancy. We have been helping women and children in Maryland and Washington, DC for more than twenty years.

Home

If you need help, call us today at 1-800-ANGEL-OK / 1-800-264-3565

Note: They have several homes for pregnant moms in the tri-county area. Call (202) 483-7008

The Northwest Pregnancy

Center

Call: 202-483-7008

Maternity Home:

Call: 202-483-2857

northwestcenter@verizon.net

Notes: For Maternity Home – Point of Contact – Susan Gallucci

202-483-2857

Townhouse for ages 18-30, 4 women at a time can live here. Women can stay up to 18 months. Located in DC, but accept women

from surrounding areas. There is a 3 step interview process open to anyone except those with substance abuse issues. One must be in therapy if there are major mental health issues. It is a transitional home and they ask for 30% of a person’s income. 5% is put into a savings account and given back when a woman leaves. Social work services are available. There is a curfew and responsibility for chores. Male visitors can come on the main level only and must be out by curfew. There is live-in supervision from 8:30pm-6am as well as volunteers and a social worker there during the

day.

Brenda House of Promising Future is a transition house for women and children, non-profit 501 c 3 in

Baltimore City started 2017.

We serve and empower young women in need by providing shelter, financial direction, nutritional needs and

education resources to become fully functional additions to

their family and community.

3905 Rokeby Road | Baltimore, Maryland 21229 (443) 743-0099