The Florence Crittenton Home is a private non-profit, residential treatment facility that provides medical, nutritional, educational, and counseling services in a home-like environment for Kentucky's young women facing single pregnancy and parenting, abuse and neglect.

Description:
The program provides long-term residential treatment, which provides comprehensive services in a home-like environment for females ages 12-17 who have been abused, neglected, abandoned or are experiencing pregnancy/parenting and/or mental health and behavioral issues which prevent them from residing at home. The goal of the program is to provide residents with the opportunity to develop self-sufficiency, to increase person and family stability, to improve physical, social and emotional well being and to return to a less restrictive environment. Comprehensive treatment services are provided in a safe, supportive, nurturing environment so that residents have a chance to regain an optimal level of functioning.

History:
HISTORY OF THE

FLORENCE CRITTENTON HOME


The late 1800’s were a time of national expansion and reform in America. Rapid industrialization, brought on by the Civil War and an enormous influx of immigration from European countries in the late 1800’s, hastened the speed of social change. Although more isolated than some states, Kentucky was affected by these currents of change. By the post-Civil war era the population in Lexington had grown to 20,000. Pure water from limestone springs provided America’s best tasting bourbon and the good soil and bluegrass supplied the perfect environment for raising racehorses.

The ensuing economic and population growth brought an increase in social problems. The heightened attention of social reformers, swept on by a tide of religious fervor, turned especially to two major problem areas, that of unwed mothers and the need for temperance reform. A group of public-spirited citizens, concerned about the problem of “wayward girls” in their midst, decided to establish the House of Mercy, a rescue home. They paid $6000 to purchase the property at 519 West Fourth Street, on September 3, 1894. Three thousand was paid in cash, $1500 came from Fayette County who retained a lien against the property, and remaining $1500 came from an anonymous donor. This home was among the earliest established in America with the emphasis of “saving and rescuing the fallen and degraded.” The agency was named the Lexington House of Mercy. The agency has been in continuous operation at the same facility since 1894. The building is on the National Register of Historic Homes and is a member of The Bluegrass Trust.

Charles Crittenton of New York City had a daughter named Florence who died at the age of four from scarlet fever. Her death left him with an inconsolable grief and prompted him to begin the Association of Florence Crittenton Homes in 1893. For comfort and solace, Mr. Crittenton turned to religion, and ultimately experienced a deep religious conversion. He, along with other businessmen and religions reformers, established a house for their work in “rescuing women.” This home, known as the “Mother Mission,” and a chain of more than 52 facilities was in operation by the turn of the century. Lexington’s House of Mercy, however, did not affiliate until 1921, when it became the Lexington Florence Crittenton House of Mercy.

Some of the early Florence Crittenton Homes were run like rescue missions with nightly prayer meetings and the handing out of gospel tracts in the vice districts. Lexington’s House of Mercy, however, focused primarily upon caring for unwed mothers prior to and after delivery, and training them to care for themselves and their children. Admission was charged for the first time in 1921, although no one was deprived service due to a lack of funds. In 1923 the Home joined the Welfare League (which became the community chest in 1927) to receive funds and generate more publicity.

The strong national religious flavor of the movement began to be challenged by the emerging social work profession, who stressed that the traditional approach of Christian charity should be replaced “with a professional, scientific approach to meeting human needs.” Much of this pressure came from the Community Chests. There was also tension over the matter of adoption. The traditional approach had been to keep mother and baby together, but by World War II fewer residents wanted to keep their babies. Better adoption laws and agencies helped ensure the provision of adequate homes.

By the mid 1940’s professional social workers were employed by the Home. In July of 1963 the policy of having only white clients was changed. By 1964 the University of Kentucky Medical Center handled all deliveries and medical care. In 1982 an Emergency Shelter program for committed girls who resided in Kentucky was begun. In 1997 a treatment-oriented program was established.

In 1951 the Board of Education began sending teachers to the Home for “Homebound education.” Before this the Home had hired retired teachers to provide this service. In October of 1967 Christ the King church donated a small school building, and in January of 1968 Fayette County began providing a teacher for the residents and non-resident girls who attended school on-site. The Home, however, continued to pay a substantial amount of the teacher’s salary. This facility helps the residents and other pregnant girls in the community who want to remain current in their education, but do not wish to attend their own schools while pregnant. By the 1960’s, Fayette County was providing two teachers and teaching supplies to the Home. Fayette County considers the school as part of the educational services group. The Home pays for utilities, insurance, and upkeep of the school building.

Contact people:

Mary Venezie, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Jennifer Connor, LCSW, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (859) 252-5546

Address:

519 West 4th Street Lexington, KY 40508 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.flocrithome.com