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Shock; Problems To Face(EDITOR’S NOTE — First of three-part series on plight of unwed mothers in Porter County and assistance they receive at Bethesda Home in \ alpaca iso. By BOB DIXON“Mom. D a d . I — I’m pregnant!”That’s the way it starts After the initial shock has worn off, a myriad of very real problems must be faced by both the girl and her parents.The problem is becoming increasingly common, even with the means of prevention available through organizations such as Planned Parenthood or Zero Population Growth.What should I do? Where can I go’’ Who should I talk to — who can I talk to? All these questions arise at once. Each one must be answered.Another question that might arise is ‘‘What does all this have to do with me?” The answer is simple.According to the Porter County Welfare Department, the problem of unwed mothers has increased tremendously in the last two years. Approximately 94 cases have been handled by the Porter County Welfare, and that figure merely scratches the surface. Many girls simply stay at home with their parents. Some travel to relatives’ homes out of state. A diminishing percentage of these girls get married.Lake County Welfare shows a current caseload of 337 unwed mothers — excluding Hammond — and they report a turnover every 90 days, morethan 1,000 cases a year.Increasingly, mothers are keeping the infants without getting married This poses a burden to the taxpayers. In 1970, federal changes were made in the Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program which made it possible for unwed mothers who were previously ineligible for any forms of aid to receive ADCWelfare officials stated that while exact figures were not available, a very high percentage (over 70 per cent) of women who keep their children later apply for welfare or ADC.Among the decisions that must be made by an expectant mother is where she will have her child and what she should do with her child once he or she is born.Although an increasing number of girls are keeping the children even though they do not plan to marry the father, most officials reccommend adoption for a number of reasons.First and foremost is the welfare of the child.While ADC is available, it is not considered adequate support for any child without some form of supplemental income.A child put up for adoption will be adopted by someone who has passed very stringent tests. The requirements for adoptive parents and the overabundance of people who wish to adopt make the odds increasingly better.In addition, knowing that her child will be properly cared for eases the expectant mother’s mind. She need not concentrate on supporting her child, but only on giving birth to a healthy child.The once common practice of rushing away to secretly marry the father of the infant is becoming increasingly less prevalent There are a number of factors that contribute to thisMost girls, if they stop and really think about the situation, find out that they are not really in love with the father in the first place. Further in vestigation indicates that most marriages (over 70 per cent) in this type of case do not work out.Abortion is a controversial concept with many pros and cons on each side of the issue.The biggest current factor that deters most girls from choosing abortions is legality.Statistics show that more than 1,000 Indiana women traveled to New York to have abortions last year An inestimable number of Indiana women planned abortions or traveled to other areas for the operationFor those women who choose to go ahead and have their babies — and most do — there is yet another course of action.The old maternity homes are in a precarious position at this point in our society according to statistics. This type of home, where a girl could ‘‘hide’’ untilher child was born is becoming a thing of the pastToday’s maternity homes are more than just a place for a girl to await the birth of her child Counseling services and in many cases high school classes are available to the girlsOne such ‘new” maternity home was built in Valparaiso under the auspices of the General Association of Baptist Churches and the Baptist Children’s Home.Next: The Bethesda Home.Bedrooms For MothersThis large, neat bedroom is one of six double bedrooms in one-story Bethesda Home. At capacity, home can accomodate 12 girls, although it has never housed more than 10.(V-M Staff Photo)
Newspaper Details
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Tue, Jul 18, 1972
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Porter C.
IN, USA 27 May 2025
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Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
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