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Last updated on May 14, 2007

Our mission is to provide compassionate faith-based recovery services to women and their children

Description:
Sojourner House is a "women with children" residential treatment program, based in Pittsburgh, PA. We are a six month program.

To qualify for treatment, a woman must be seriously addicted AND be pregnant or have at least one child that will live here with her.

Sojourner House is unique in that each family is provided with her own beautiful apartment. Our around the clock staff provide supportive help and monitoring. During the day, women and children are involved in a busy schedule of activities. Mothers attend counseling, life skills and parenting education. The youngsters either attend school or our on-site play care program. The children are also provided tutoring, Boys and Girls Club and many recreational activities.

Our faith based approach is nondenominational and starts with the woman. While here, she learns in our "spirituality" and "family spirituality" groups how to grow as a whole person, and the importance of teaching values to children. We also help women to find a congregational home through our mentoring Friends program.

History:
Sojourner House was founded by a group of concerned, grass roots women who wanted to help mothers to break the cycle of addiction, poverty and homelessness. As a nondenominational faith-based agency, we have "spread our wings" to partner with other agencies and community groups over time to enhance community involvement and program quality. Over the past ten years we have invited many, many agencies and volunteers to enhance the families' experience. Volunteers do everything from provide once-a-year intensive property improvement, to weekly groups. Our "Friends" program invites congregations to partner with us in many different ways ... from one time assistance or youth group mission experiences...to mentoring residents.
Sojourner House is now 14 years old and has served hundreds of families, mothers and children.

In July 2004, Sojourner House took a giant step in expanding its services by opening a second program, Sojourner House MOMS, which provides permanent supported housing options of mentally ill/substance abusing women who are heads of families. This program will provide more options for addicted mothers who are struggling to maintain a safe and stable home and a healthy family environment. Eventually there will be four apartment houses that will be home to sixteen families.

Volunteer opportunities exist at both sites. We will work with you to design an experience, from 1/2 or 1 day, to several days.

Because of the issues of confidentiality, youth groups must be accompanied by an adequate number of adults to supervise.

Contact person: Norma Raiff, Ph.D., (phone), (email)
Office fax number: 412-441-3409

Address:

5460 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sojournerhousepa.org

Directions:

From downtown: Take Bigelow Boulevard towards Oakland; make a left on Baum Blvd. Turn left again on Negley. Then make a left on Penn Avenue. We are about 2 blocks down toward the city from the Penn Avenue Circle. For maps or information, please see http://www.portauthority.org/ride/ride.html

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	Yes
Is act 33/34 clearance required of your volunteers?
	Yes

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