Unwed pregnant teenagers can seek help at Rosalie Hall, a social service agency located in the Bronx, New York. They offer residential services for these troubled teen girls and even have an aftercare program for up to two years after the teenager has had the baby.
Executive Director of Rosalie Hall, Dr. Steven Parker, D.S.W, said “Many of the young women who pass through the doors of Rosalie Hall have no support from family or the father of the child. We provide our single teenagers and women with warmth, understanding and emotional support throughout their pregnancy.”
Those teenagers at the agency are placed into groups in order to hone their individual strengths. They are provided with extensive counseling as well as medical support. Child care classes are offered in order to avoid the issues that young teen mothers may come upon when they are faced with childbirth at a young age.
 “When I came to Rosalie Hall two months ago, I was scared of what the future would hold. I was four months pregnant, but the staff of Rosalie Hall took away my fears and helped me make plans for my child’s future, as well as my own. At Rosalie Hall, I am able to continue my high school education and am also taking parenting courses, where I am learning about proper nutrition for my baby and myself as well as how to be a good parent.” said 18 year old Victoria McKenley.
Aiding young teen girls in recognizing their self-worth and setting positive goals for their future as a mother are the main purposes of Rosalie Hall. The teen girls who join are able to continue studying even when they are pregnant because of a High School Education program which is included in the center.
A mentoring program also exists at Rosalie Hall known as the Mentors’ Group which lets young pregnant teens speak up with other people in the community in order to express their feelings and talk about their experiences.
“I was initially resentful about being at Rosalie Hall, when I first arrived at the age of sixteen but through participating in their mentor program I came to see that there were other young women in my situation, and that was of great help to me as well as the support and counseling of the Rosalie Hall staff. I am happy to say that my daughter Jasmine is now 11 years old and I love being a Mother. I work in market research for a company in Rockland County, New York,” recalls Dawn Beider, now aged 27.
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