What is the Hurwit Shelter: FRC’s Hurwit Emergency Shelter provides maternity emergency shelter care services for up to eight teenage mothers and up to two children (ages newborn through four years old) per mother that are in the dependency system. The Shelter allows the teenage mother and her child(ren) that are in the dependency system to remain together in a safe, nurturing facility with twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week caring and awake staff. The program configuration offers an intensive package of services to meet the short-term and longer-term needs of dependent pregnant teenagers, dependent teenage mothers and their children. The shelter is licensed for 22 people and is located in Carol City/Miami Gardens, FL.

Why is the Hurwit Shelter Important: What foster pregnant teenager and/or teenage mother has the means to provide a crib, car seat, stroller, clothing, know what it means to be a new parent and provide for all the other needs of a new born or baby? Finding placement for these teens in foster homes is very difficult because it requires a significant long term  commitment for the foster parent.  The system of care is in need of more foster homes that are willing to parent pregnant teenagers, teenage mothers and their children. In order to fill this gap in the system, FRC developed the Hurwit Emergency Shelter for Teenage Mothers and their Children in order to fill this gap.

How We Help: During their stay at the Hurwit emergency shelter, FRC will provide a secure living environment with adult supervision and material and emotional support for foster teen parent families. By providing coordinated, Maternity Emergency Shelter Care, FRC aims to promote more positive long-term outcomes for foster teen parents and their children, such as achieving and sustaining healthy and independent living. FRC provides necessary logistical supports, such as transportation and child care to enable foster teen parents to pursue school, vocational training and entry into the workplace, develop good parenting skills, build and develop essential personal, social and family relationship skills; thereby becoming competent, independent mothers who are contributing citizens that engage in responsible decision-making. Mental health and medical services including prenatal and post-natal care are components of the program as well.

What We Provide: The Hurwit Emergency Shelter will address the numerous challenges facing dependent pregnant teenagers, dependant teenage mothers and their children. The objectives of the program include providing a structured and supervised transition from residential placement to the community; ensuring that the medical and emotional needs of the pregnant teenagers, the teenage mothers and their children are met on an ongoing basis and ensuring that the teenage mothers and their children are well prepared to transition into the community with the knowledge base and skill sets that promote physical and mental well being. The goal is to return these teenagers back into the mainstream of their communities with the mindset and skills to lead productive lives and successfully parent their child(ren).