When a judge ordered 16-year-old Lacee Bradford to move into the YWCA home for pregnant teens in Salt Lake City, the mother-to-be was furious. She wanted to be with her family, not a bunch of girls in trouble.
More than three years later, Bradford is convinced the Teen Home changed the direction of her life, as it had for hundreds of girls since 1982. But not anymore: The program quietly shut down last fall, leaving alumna like Bradford upset.
"This [was] such a good opportunity for many girls in Utah that are in foster care or don't have another place to go," the now-20-year-old said.
Times have changed. A pregnant teen is no longer hidden away. High schools often offer day care and parenting programs for young mothers. Reflecting that trend, the Teen Home began to see its numbers decline as the state began paying it less to house young women.
At the same time, the need for more shelter for young female domestic violence victims continued, leading officials to expand that program.
"Because they're such young families we feel like we have a unique chance to intervene," said Keri Jones, the YWCA chief program officer.
But the choice has left some on the Wasatch Front concerned about the future of pregnant teens. Over the past year, the number of young homeless moms-to-be appears to be up at the homeless youth drop-in center in Salt Lake City. And this December, budget concerns led the state to close its long-running Ogden home that helped youth transition to adult living. Clients had included pregnant teenagers.
"Even though it was beneficial, even though we really felt like we were doing some remarkable things, with the women up there, the cost of the home, the cost of staffing became overwhelming," said Duane Betournay, director of the Division of Child and Family Services.
A small number of girls -- only 15 -- in state custody are currently pregnant, data show. The state continues to contract with group homes, and many pregnant girls remain in foster care.
"I think kids in general do better in family settings and foster care and certainly you could extend that to a pregnant teenager," he said.
But some girls may run away from home or stay home and not receive the help they need, said Steven Titensor, the clinical director of the Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services.
"I think the whole picture for them is pretty bleak," he said. "If there is a strained relationship and they're not welcome at home because they're pregnant -- a homeless teen is a pretty vulnerable person."
Titensor believes the YWCA program, which allowed girls to stay after giving birth, was the only one of its kind in Utah. Another nonprofit could seek federal dollars that are available for what's known as a maternity group home, he notes.
YWCA officials point to the decreasing rate of teenage moms in Utah as part of the reasoning behind their decision. The rate of girls ages 15 to 17 having babies has declined during the past 15 years, though numbers began to climb again around 2004. In 2008, the rate stood at 18.2 births per 1,000 adolescent girls ages 15 to 17.
In Salt Lake City, the Volunteers of America homeless youth resource center is so accustomed to young parents that it often has a crib or high chair available. Officials make a special effort to place young mothers in housing. At least three recently gave birth, and three are pregnant.
"The real problem is the health concern," said Rachel Laser, a case manager at the center. "When you're pregnant and on the streets, if you're sleeping outside or in an abandoned building or sleeping in the shelter, it's not very hygienic."
Bradford, the young mom who stayed at the YWCA, guesses she ran away from home 30 times. Now living in Taylorsville with her toddler son, she is a proud high school graduate, attending community college and hoping to become a homicide detective.
She arrived at the Teen Home as a 16-year-old six months pregnant, and left when she was 18. During that time, Bradford grew up a lot, she said, gaining patience, parenting skills and a deeper understanding of healthy relationships. Her son inspires her to strive for a better future.
"I want to have a good life," she said. "I don't want to live poor."
