Los Angeles home for unwed mothers now a family center to address �the bigger picture�

By Paula Doyle
3/6/2008
The Tidings (www.the-tidings.com)

LOS ANGELES, CA (The Tidings) - A century ago, when the Ford Motor Company first introduced its classic Model T touring car and before women�s suffrage, St. Anne�s maternity home for unwed pregnant women was founded by Bishop Thomas Conaty in Los Angeles.

FAMILY - Yecica Robles and her son, Carlos, are looking ahead to a brighter future since their stay at St. Anne�s Bogen Family Center. (St. Anne�s Bogen)

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From modest beginnings as a small, safe refuge for pregnant young women � most of whom placed their baby up for adoption � St. Anne�s has evolved into a six-acre campus at 155 North Occidental Blvd. in Echo Park serving hundreds of young women, children and their families annually.

St. Anne�s, administered by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart since 1941, provides residential/transitional housing, mental health and family based services and an education program to hundreds of at-risk young women and children.

Today, all pregnant teenage minors at St. Anne�s are in California�s child welfare system. They have been removed from their homes and placed in the foster care system because of abuse and neglect and may also have been involved with the state probation system.

�It�s a little different than it used to be,� noted Steve Gunther, St. Anne�s chief operating officer. �There was a time when the real focus was on [a girl�s] pregnancy. While that still remains a focus, the reality is that the mental health needs of the girl and the history she brings to us is a big part of the focus, and the pregnancy and the parenting is just a piece of a much bigger picture.�

St. Anne�s residential treatment program, serving approximately 39 pregnant and parenting teenage girls ages 13-18, provides educational and vocational assistance, case management services, mental health services, health services coordination, social and recreational activities and child care services. Mirroring societal trends, the majority of today�s pregnant residents keep their babies. St. Anne�s onsite hospital closed in 1976.

�We have a continuum of programs and services that we can provide,� explained Gunther. �A young lady, for example, could move into our residential services program. She would be enrolled, most likely, in our mental health program. She would have her child enrolled in our child care program. She most likely would be enrolled in family literacy, one of our family-based programs. And she may, potentially, turn 18 and emancipate from that program and move into transitional housing.�

Two-year �treasure�

Yecica Robles, 22, was among the first group of mothers and children to move into St. Anne�s Bogen Family Center, which opened in 2005.

Previously a resident of a foster care group home, Robles and her six-year-old son, Carlos, were accepted into The Bogen Family Center�s transitional housing program, which provides up to 24 months of affordable housing and support services for pregnant and parenting young women who have emancipated from the child welfare system.

St. Anne�s operates the largest transitional housing program in Los Angeles County, providing 39 out of 48 �beds� available to foster care emancipated women with children in its Bogen facility. Residents, who are required to work or go to school full-time or do both concurrently, receive counseling and support services aimed at helping them achieve independence after their stay.

�It really did help,� said Robles. �If I didn�t come here, where would I be right now? When I came here, they helped me do everything [such as] fill out resumes, arrange transportation to work and school, and find babysitters for my son.� She currently works as the center�s property manager, allowing her to continue living at Bogen, while taking classes full-time at Los Angeles City College toward her goal of becoming a paralegal.

Robles described her two-year transitional living stay at Bogen like �a little treasure,� allowing her the time to build life and parenting skills. She willingly shares her personal story with others.

�I talk to a lot of residents and try to encourage them,� she says. �I tell them, �It�s not easy, but you can do it and you have to do it for your own good and for your child. If I can do it, you can do it.��

Alumni reunion

As part of activities planned for its centennial year, St. Anne�s staff members and many of its 400 volunteers are organizing a reunion at St. Anne�s July 26 for former residents, children born at the center, and parents who adopted babies from St. Anne�s as well as employees, volunteers or board members who have served over the decades.

Joyce Walter, a member of St. Anne�s Board of Trustees who was born at the Catholic maternity home in 1944 and adopted at one month by a �wonderful� family, is proud of St. Anne�s 100 years of continuous service.

�St. Anne�s has changed along with changing times to accommodate a new generation of girls who make the decision to raise their children. It provides a wonderful service,� said Walter.

A longtime volunteer in the child care center, Walter says she enjoys seeing the young mothers become successful parents. �St. Anne�s holds a big place in my heart,� said Walter.

For information on St. Anne�s alumni reunion or other centennial events, contact St. Anne�s at (213) 381-2931 ext. 274; email stannes@stannes.org or log on to www.stannes.org.

- - -

This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of The Tidings (www.the-tidings.com), official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

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1 - 10 of 30 Comments

Lesa
1 week ago
I suggest for everyone searching for family member (s), to increase your chances of a reunion, take DNA test! (test w/ Ancestry, FTDNA or 23andme)
I am adopted. Was born Oct. 1972, Southern. Cal.
My birth mom may have stayed at St. Ann's, Los Angeles...
***I will wait for a genetic, proof positive match.
Don't loose faith:)
Mary DiMambro
2 weeks ago
My name was Mary Elizabeth Westley. I gave birth at St. Annes Hospital on Oct 30,1972. My biracial (blk/wht) son was put up for adoption. I named you Jason Lee Booker. I was barely 16 yrs old. I had no means and no parental help. I had no social security number so there were many failed attempts to find you. I am sorry for that. I have two newborn pictures of you that my caseworker sent me. I look at them often. I want to know you and pray you are happy and healthy. I hope your adoptive parents were good to you. You have 1 biological sister(Bernedette). She is 39, married and has 2 boys and 1 girl. We would love to know you. If for any reason you think you are my son, please email me at marydimambro@yahoo.com. By the way, in 1972 all adoption records were sealed.
I love you, always.
Tina
2 months ago
I stayed at St. Anne's In 1983 and gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy, David on June 22. My mother wanted me to give him up for adoption and I spoke to the adoption counselors every so often but they were never pushy and respected my decision to keep my son. I decided on Mother's day after coming home that Sunday evening after spending time with my own mom, finding a letter from the baby on each of our beds that wished us a Happy Mother's day. I am so thankful for having experienced so much hope and joy and dignity that each person have to me there, after experiencing such despair in my own high school after finding out I was pregnant, it was the best thing. Mrs. Cathy was our house mother and I don't remember the nuns names but they gave so much love and encouragement to us girls. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Paula Brandon Long
2 months ago
I was a resident of St. Anne's 1979 &1980 and watched several little girls become warriors when they gave their beautiful newborn Angels up for adoption. They then would come back to St.Anne's bawling and empty handed to pack their belongings and return to families that refused to let them return with their babies. I remember one sweet girl who begged her parents week after week to allow her to bring her baby home but her mother had already made up a story about Valley Fever so it was out of the question. I remember the day she delivered as we would all get up and time contractions with whomever was next. My daughter was born June11,1980 and I was no warrior. We struggled for many years and I had 4 more Angels with two more men and all my babies struggled...because I was no warrior! So if you were given up for adoption know this she stared at you, she spent months trying to figure out how to keep you, she cries in her pillow and if your 75 she cries on your birthday. She loved you then, she loves you now and Your Mother is a WARRIOR and it started with YOU!
That sweet little girl killed herself the next year and at the memorial her mother was blaming it on Valley Fever...some of us just aren't warriors!
Wesley Nakamatsu
3 months ago
Well I'm sure I will never find you or you would of found me by now , but if by chance you are looking for me I miss you so so much and I love you still even thou we never met all my life I've dreamed and hoped of meeting you and I had a lot of expectations of you and dad but I'm 36 now it's getting to be just a thing I do every night I think of you thinking of me . My name is Wesley I was born at this St. Anne's Hospital, occidental st. In Los Angeles . I Born on march 17,1976. I got a letter from the adoption agency or the foster care place I'm not to sure, but it was brief about my birth parents ..if you are out there and I am the same as you then I still think you miss and think and I hope looking for me too.. I can't get anywhere past these blogs or anywhere I just can't figure out how well if not i would love to find my family brothers or sisters anyone out there or am I just alone ? I have has a great youth but always had a tough and very sad time about adoption I can go on forever and I hope to one day with you or dad or my family ? Well my parents are Japanese eye doctor (optometrist ) and my adopted mother is a retired school teacher now.. Thank you I do love them but they are so much different it's ok I learned a lot it took a long time but I did and now I have a son and a daughter both of them I am raising alone single father now I understand why you or all adoptions might be chosen ,me never it is only because I dreamed of having them all my life never alone ,but it's tough but I have my family now and blood and they look and talk like me I am so happy and love them with all my heart . Well I thought this would be my last and only try to find all or my mother and father or any family who can help me or just meet me would change my world into such happiness . Thanks for all who listened and maybe tried to help!
Wilma Santos
3 months ago
17 yr old couple was unable to keep baby girl born February 17, 1972 born in Los Angeles, CA. Maiden name of Mother was PEARSON. Her father was military. Non ID papers do state that birth mother went to adoption agency at 7 months pregnant. The adoption agency they went thru is County of Ventura Human Services agency address is 1400 Vanguard dr suite c Oxnard CA 93033.. If ANY of this sounds familiar, would love to hear from you!!
Maggie
5 months ago
Looking for my half sister. My mother Susan Martinez gave birth to her on 12/19/70 and gave her the name Melissa Rose Martinez but I think it was changed by the adoptive parents.
Joe Matson
7 months ago
Hello...I was born at st Annes on June 13 1961.
I'm trying to find out who my father is..
I've been told many different stories but still have no idea.
Are there any types of records kept regarding my birth..?
I may even have siblings that I'm not aware of...
Any help would be appreciated.

How Matson..

Palm desert calif
Doris Fritz
1 year ago
I am writing a message for my son Lester Thomas Fritz let I had put up for adoption in 1977. i want to let you know that I loved you very much and that I will always love you. So if you looking for me, contact me by e-mail.I did what I wanted do the best by you.Putting you up for adoption for hard for me to do. Forgive me please. So if you are out there please contact me okay. Love You so much.My e-mail is dorisfritz@ymail.com.
Rosemarie Mellado
1 year ago
I was adopted out of St. Anne's on Occidental Blvd. in Los Angeles, I was born at Sun Valley Hospital January 13, 1961. I researched and I thought my mother's name was Alice Hartnet, however people who know who I am are saying my mother's name is Gloria. Is there any way to clarify this ? Please e-mail me at liferswife@yahoo.com

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