Young women arrive at Seton Home because they are pregnant, frightened and have nowhere to turn for help. They arrive at various stages of pregnancy or after the birth of their babies, bringing with them personal stories of rejection, abuse, pain and disappointment. They arrive with limited expectations – a safe place to stay and food to eat. They are children giving birth to, and trying to parent, children.

Age of our Clients

Seton Home residents' age at admission must be between 12 and 17 but moms can stay through age 19. Data compiled from records of Seton Home Residents placed from May 2001 to May 2008 tell us that 34% of clients were aged 15 and younger, 32% of clients were aged 16, and 34% were 17 years.

Characteristics of clients

Since 2006

• 56% of clients were living in a shelter before they came to Seton Home
• 27% had been living with family members
• 10% had been housed by Juvenile Justice
• 9% were in foster care
• 4% were living on the street
• More than 65% of clients were classified as runaways

Data collected since 2003 shows:

• 95% have suffered physical or sexual abuse
• 90% having witnessed domestic violence
• 95% have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder
• 45% suffer from depression and are on psychotropic medication
• 34% have considered suicide
• 36% practiced self mutilation to gain attention
• 45% admit gang involvement
• 80% have used drugs and/or alcohol
• 39% have had at least one sexually transmitted disease
• 44% are one or more grade levels behind in school
• 77% are regular truants

Despite these staggering statistics of pain and hopelessness, the mothers at Seton Home made a truly courageous decision to parent their child and break the cycle of dysfunction, violence and poverty that impacted their own short childhoods. There is hope at Seton Home.