http://animoto.com/play/nfvVvIowQRw9cIifIDhUuQ?utm_content=main_link

Animoto

By:

Sara, Krisy, Thipika, Duleeka and Sophia

Sisters of Life

• Who are they?

• Who they help?

Introduction about the agency

• They are Catholic Sisters who love everyone and to love women so that they can love their children.

What’s their mandate?

• This agency was started by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1991. This was started 21 years ago in New York.

Who started this agency?

• When they came to Toronto, they were not sure on what work to do here.

• They visited schools and churches and started to meet new people and talked with them.

• At the end they decided to work with women.

Why did they start this agency?

• Women call and say daughter is pregnant and need help

• Pregnant women who just started going to school and don’t know what to do

• New to Canada and got pregnant

• High School students say they’re pregnant and “mom will kill them”

• Most women who are pregnant have no support, no family, no husband

• They don’t want an abortion but don’t know who to go to for support

What are some of the circumstances leading up to families choosing this agency?

Parenting workshop:

They do at hospital

Advocacy Service:

If the mother’s child don’t go to school for one week they support. They call the principal and tell them what happened.

Counseling:

• Catholic family service

• Private

• 1 on 1 session

• Support and encouragement

What support is available to families through this agency?

• Education

• Language

• Residence

• Proximity

Possible Barriers

• Maternity cloths

• Winter coat, books , music

• Supplies for babies

• If the clients have a connection with their agency then they give the supply.

What donations do they receive and give?

• All ages from 14- 44 both men and woman but mostly woman.

• Different work backgrounds

• Mainly women in their 20’s

Age Ranges that Sister Of Life Supports

• One branch located in Toronto

• 7 Different house in New York City ( each branch has a different goal in clientele.

• Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent (Holy Respite), New York, NY.

• Villa Maria, Guadalupe (Retreat House), Stamfort, CT.

• St. Frances De Chantal Convent (Postulant House, Vocations), Brox, NY.

How many Branches Do the Sisters of Life have?

• 6 Months

• They stay for the entire pregnancy

• Until they get daycare

How long will the clients be able to have their support?

• Since opening in 2007, 325 clients

• Last year (2011) 129 clients

• Most are in 20’s and single mothers

• Accept all religion and background

• Only one abortion since opening

How many clients have they had come to their agency?

• Mothers keep in touch with the sisters

• Ask if everything is ok

• They come back to see the sisters.

• Building a personal bond/ relationship

• Annual Christmas party

Do they follow up with their clients when they stop asking for support?

• Nurses

• People offering a room in their personal homes

• Company wholesale

• Hospitals

• Social Workers

• Court lawyers

What kind of volunteers provide supports to their clients

• Listen to mothers’ concerns, hopes, fears

• Ask mother how she found the Sisters of Life

• Ask mothers what they desire

• Tell mothers what their next step is

• Encourage mothers to have the baby but never force

• They don’t agree with abortion

• Pray for all mothers half an hour per day

What ethics are discussed in their counseling sessions?

7 total branches including:

How many branches does their agency have?