Sawyer wakes up each day by 7:30 a.m., attends classes to receive her high school equivalency diploma, then performs daily chores and attends parenting classes.
“I am very determined to get my GED,” she said. “I need extra help with the math, and the people here encourage me to stay in school.”
Following the birth of her daughter, Sawyer plans to move in with her mother and grandmother. The baby will be named Mary LaRae after her grandmother.
“I’m doing this for me and the baby,” she said, rubbing her belly.
In the house’s basement, each resident has a locker where their parenting essentials are stored, including a stroller, a crib and a car seat. The residents will take the items with them when they leave.
Ongoing resources are available on-site at Wanda’s Baby Closet, which provides free infant, child and maternity clothing, along with diapers, formula, baby furniture and toys to Casa de Vida clients and anyone in need in the community.
From July 20 to Aug. 20, 294 children received goods from the store, Luevano said. There are no qualifications to receive aid, and clients can visit every three months.
Donations of size 4, 5 and 6 diapers always are needed, she said.
In the future, Luevano would like to expand Casa de Vida’s services to provide a day program for the women after they’ve had their babies.
“We’re here to have healthy babies, but we’re not satisfied with that,” Luevano said. “We want healthy toddlers, children and adults. We want to make sure they aren’t repeating the same cycle.”
If women do need help immediately after their baby is born, Casa de Vida offers House of Hope, a transitional home for new mothers and their babies younger than 6 months old.
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Residents pay a fee and must be 18 or older, with priority given to former Casa de Vida residents.
The women at House of Hope must either be working or in school and meet weekly with a social worker.
Printed with permission from Northern Nevada Catholic, newspaper from the Diocese of Reno, Nevada.