To survive, women face pressure to do unthinkable things. They live in constant fear of attack or rape. Their children struggle to process the suffering and disruption in their lives. They often fall far behind in school and social development.

What these women and their children need most of all is a home … a place where they feel safe, where needs are met, and where they can finally focus on charting a new path.

Right now, Helping Up Mission’s new Center for Women & Children provides a safe, supportive home for up to 200 women. And beginning in early 2023, addicted mothers and their infants will be welcomed to a specialized unit. Here, each mother will get the support she needs to beat her addiction and care for her newborn child.

At the Center, individual women and families will be able to finally breathe a sigh of relief, let down their guard, and begin healing. Helping Up Mission’s professional staff and volunteers will provide:

• Tasty, nutritional meals three times a day
• Clothing that fits — enhancing an individual’s dignity
• Feminine hygiene items
• Supportive family services
• Pastoral care and counseling
• Primary healthcare and wellness clinic in partnership with GBMC Healthcare
• Education, job training, and workforce development
• Professional clinical mental health and substance abuse counseling in partnership with Johns Hopkins Cornerstone Program
• Art and music therapy and related education
• Hair and nail salon care
• Recreational opportunities
• Laundry facilities

At the heart of the Center for Women & Children will be a gender-informed, residential, faith-based, 12-step substance abuse recovery program set within the context of a therapeutic supportive community.

Women will receive clinical and professional mental health care and substance abuse counseling, professional pastoral care, and a large array of physical, psychological, social, emotional, and practical supportive services so that they can focus on their recovery and achieve lasting success.