Harbor Life Ministries

To qualify for housing a girl must be 19 or under, pregnant and unmarried, and must have the permission of her parent or legal guardian. After she or her parents or guardian indicate the desire for housing, an assessment is made to determine the next step.
Assessment
When applying to move in at Harbor House, the applicant will get to meet with the Admissions Director, tour the home, complete an application form and get to ask questions or voice any concerns she or her parents might have. An assessment interview helps to finally determine if moving in?joining the program and becoming a part of the family as a resident?might meet the goals of the girl and her parents and be beneficial to all concerned.
Psychological (Behavior) Issues
Sometimes a girl has had previous problems? psychological, medical or educational?and records may need to be studied to evaluate an issue or problem. No girl can stay who has shown by her previous behavior that she might pose a risk to the house-family or others.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
If a girl has an alcohol or drug problem, she will need to deal with the problem?in other words, ?just say no??before she can stay at Harbor House. If she smokes cigarettes, she will be asked to quit smoking entirely before moving in.
Late Term Pregnancies
Whether a girl is planning to parent or make an adoption plan for her baby, she can be no more than six months?or 26 weeks?along in her pregnancy when moving in. This allows enough time for her to benefit from the classes, the counseling, and to get the appropriate medical care for both herself and her baby.
Willing Parents, Unwilling Daughters
Ideally every girl should want to come and to stay willingly. But that isn?t always the case. Since God?s design for the family is to give parents the authority over their children?an arrangement that?s meant to provide loving protection?it?s important that parents are supported in their decisions.
Restrictions
Each resident must abide by the house rules. Any time a group of people lives together, there are certain adjustments that need to be made. Consideration and understanding are both helpful, but rules?enforced with loving discipline?provide structure and boundaries.