Mary’s Shelter - Gulf Coast addresses the needs of women experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. Services are available to single and married women in need, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background. The shelter provides residential care and support services in a loving, Christian environment to pregnant women who need help, whether due to lack of daily living skills, education or job skills.
Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast programs are designed to enable mothers’ to make informed decisions. The Empower Me program, a token economy program, rewards mothers for their participation in training / classes / groups to enhance their daily living skills, self esteem, prenatal and parenting skills, education and / or job preparation skills. Tokens can be utilized in the Empower Me Store to purchase clothing, self-care and baby items, household items, etc. A program evaluation completed 3 months following arrival and every three months thereafter is utilized to modify programming to ensure that identified needs are met.
Provisions are made to help care for the babies after they are born, to enable the women to finish their education and to develop life and job skills. Our program is offered to women and their children, to help them achieve happy, healthy and productive lives. Through our programs the women can develop decision-making skills as well as financial responsibility.
The home is patterned on successful existing Mary’s Shelters in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California and Florida. For links to these facilities click on the “Contact Us” button.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Mary's Shelter, Gulf Coast, has affiliations with the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of South Alabama to provide field placements for social work students and with Troy University, Southeast Region, Florida as a site for counseling students to complete their practicum and / or internship. Supervision is provided by Donna McCarley, MSW, LCSW, the Executive Director.
Mary's Shelter, Gulf Coast, is able to provide a high quality educational and practical experience for both undergraduate and graduate level students. Please call 251.986.6200 or email marysshelter@gulftel.com about a placement at Mary's Shelter, Gulf Coast.