I am a 19 year old high school dropout, working two jobs. When my boyfriend and I found out that I was pregnant, we were shocked, scared and excited all at the same time. We were homeless, living in our car, and did not know how we would raise a child. The first thing I did was call my mom because my mom had me at 16, and she stayed at a halfway house until I was born. She told me I needed to find someone who would help us [...]
My name is Kesha. I am 18 years old and just started my second semester of college. I have a beautiful little girl named Anna. This is my story. I was planning to go into the military after graduating from high school. I had excellent grades and had been in JROTC since middle school. I loved it and believed it would save me from the environment I have lived in all my life. My mom was single and told my sister and me that our fathers didn’t even know we [...]
Being 20 years old, it seems I have still not processed the fact that I am pregnant, again. My son is almost 18 months old, and my boyfriend and I are anxious about him being a sibling. I have been very sick this pregnancy, so it has not been a fun experience and the fact that neither one of us are ready for another child has made this whole situation difficult. I am currently not in school nor am I employed, which makes the situation even worse. We live with [...]
I am 43 years old. I just had a beautiful baby girl. It is very likely that my precious baby would not have been born had it not been for the services I received through the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program. I came to the pregnancy center when I began to suspect I was pregnant. I took a pregnancy test and, sure enough, I was pregnant. I was scared and did not think I could go through with the pregnancy. My youngest child was 14, and the thought of having [...]
My first visit to the pregnancy center was to take a free pregnancy test and verify my pregnancy, so I could apply for benefits. At that point I had no idea that the center would have other great services to offer and that I would soon become a regular at the women’s center. Some of these great services that have benefited me have been the Earn While You Learn program, the bi-weekly mommy support groups and the new breastfeeding support group. When I first visited the center, I had an [...]
His name is Christopher. He has sparkling blue eyes and a shy smile that captures not only your attention but your heart as well. Life is good for Christopher, and he lets you know it with an infectious giggle that fills the room. But things didn't start out this way for Christopher. His mom came to the pregnancy center suspecting pregnancy after an unfortunate decision one night. She walked in already in tears, in a state of panic and fear. A chance meeting with a kind-hearted woman at Publix (who [...]
At the tender age of 19, one does not fully understand the sentiment of support. It is one of the furthest thoughts from a person’s mind. However, for a young woman dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, the feeling of support can be the most essential if not inspiring thought there is. As I am a young mother myself, I know exactly how the role of support can affect one’s life as well as others. When I learned I was pregnant, I was 19 and did not have the slightest clue [...]
Lici was 13 years old when she came here from Cuba. She started school and her family bought her a computer with internet access. Lici spent long hours on the computer trying to learn English as well as accessing popular sites such as Facebook and My Space. One day Lici met a young man on the internet who said he went to school with her and wanted to get to know her better. Not having much experience she didn't see anything wrong because he was just one of her "schoolmates". [...]
SPEAKER: Jeanne Pernia, Clinics Director/Post-abortion Recovery Director Heartbeat of Miami Jeanne Pernia is originally from New York City, has been married for over 33 years and has three children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Jeanne was raised in Miami, Florida but lived most of her adult life in El Paso, Texas. There she obtained her Associates degree in Human Services and Mental Health and her Bachelors of Science in Social Psychology from Park University in El Paso. She is certified as a Substance Abuse and Alcohol Counselor [...]
SPEAKER: Connie Moore, former director of the Pregnancy Help and Information Center, Tallahassee and current board member of FPCN Connie Moore served as Executive Director/CEO of the Pregnancy Help and Information Center in Tallahassee from 1997 until her retirement in May 2014. During that time the center had over a 400% budget increase, began a thriving parenting and dad's program, added sonogram services and purchased and paid for a 7,000 square foot building. In 2006 Connie was asked to create a curriculum for a new statewide program [...]