Getting
Started
The east wing of the building, which originally
served as Dr. Gibbons' home (first floor and basement)
and the hospital maternity ward, (second floor), was renovated
and made ready as living quarters for the house parents
and their children and up to six pregnant teens. Harbor
House was licensed as a maternity home by the state of
Ohio in November of 1994. The first resident moved in
New Year's Eve, 1994.
The
Setting
In the years since, the non-denominational
Christian outreach has been home to dozens of girls, primarily
from the region but also from as far away as Texas and
Florida. Housing is limited to girls ages 13 to 19 (age
exceptions have been made on rare occasions to provide
temporary emergency shelter). The girls live with house
parents in a family setting that employs Biblical principles
of love, discipline and counsel.
The programming the girls receive is intended
to help them to make mature and informed decisions for
themselves and their future as well as for their baby.
While living in the home they continue their high school
education, take part in church activities and Bible studies
that are directed toward youth, and work on developing
parenting and independent living skills.
The
Counseling
Teen pregnancy outside of the marriage
covenant inevitably causes broken or strained relationships
among family, friends, and most importantly, with God.
Restoration of those relationships is a goal of the counseling
at Harbor House which is based on the sufficiency of God's
Word to change and restore lives that have been damaged
by sin. Most counseling does not take place in a sterile
office but day by day, moment by moment.
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