Expanding our reach
By Jenny Eldredge
Building on our organization's commitment to serving birth mothers, Bellis will answer a call from the community to do more. In the spring, we will begin offering our Stronger Together peer-based support program to women who have lost custody of their children after intervention by child protection services.
An unsettling reality is that hundreds of Minnesota women are left without emotional support related to the fact that someone else will parent their children. An independent study conducted by Wilder Research found no organization in the country is doing the work we propose to serve mothers who have lost custody.
We can bring birth mothers together to help each other learn to manage grief and make sense of life moving ahead.
We are grateful to the Sauer Family Foundation, which has awarded Bellis a grant to initiate this work.
A past Bellis board president, Vicky Iacarella, wrote us this heartfelt message:
I was thrilled to hear and read about the new program in support of mothers who lose custody of their children. This is so important and I believe will have a profound impact on the future of these forgotten women. I say this because of my past experience as a Guardian Ad Litem.
There was one case that I was involved in that really affected me. A mom was losing parental rights for three of her children (including a nine-month old) because she had a drug problem she just couldn’t overcome. The day of court where she was told her rights were being terminated, everyone was waiting outside the courtrooms for their scheduled time.
I remember seeing her standing alone along the wall crying. I didn’t know what to do or say. I couldn’t imagine what she was feeling but I knew she loved her kids and didn’t want to lose them. When I look back, I wish I would have gone over to her just to acknowledge her loss. I know there are many more like her who will be grateful for the much-needed hope and help that your new program will provide. Thank you.
How can you help?
· Know that by adding a new program, we aren't taking away from our current work.
· Cheer us on and offer insights as we take each next intentional, well-researched step!
· Introduce us to fellow thought leaders to broaden our perspective and open doors.
Invest… If there was ever a year to increase your tax-deductible gift to Bellis, this is it! Make your online contribution here.
We’re hiring two short-term consultants in support of this new program.
Jenny is an adoptive mother. As Bellis’ executive director, she gets to witness the power of empathy, peer-based support, and connection.