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Birth Haven House Rules and Requirements

Birth Haven Inc. is a temporary, transitional shelter for pregnant girls and women; one that provides a safe, caring atmosphere as well as advocacy services and the challenge necessary to allow residents to become self-sufficient individuals once they leave Birth Haven.

To facilitate the above, the following house rules and requirements have been developed:

General Requirements:

1. Admission to Birth Haven may occur at any time during pregnancy, with an initial trial period of two weeks, and then re-evaluation occurs.
2. Each resident will be required to have, or be immediately eligible for, some source of medical insurance in place before her arrival, i.e. private, Medicaid temporary, Medicaid permanent
3. No one is turned away from Birth Haven because of the inability to pay. Arrangements will be made on an individual basis to be determined between the parent/guardian or resident and Birth Haven’s Executive Director. It is expected that each resident contribute 15% of any money she receives from any source while at Birth Haven, towards her stay.
4. Each day will be structured for each resident in accordance with her particular goals. The goals will be established during individual therapy. Each day, residents must be actively involved in attaining these goals.
5. Residents will be required to participate in weekly individual therapy with the Social Worker to discuss personal goals and any therapeutic issues she may have. Residents are also required to attend and participate in weekly group therapy on a regularly scheduled basis during the entire time of their stay.
6. Residents are required to attend and participate in all scheduled Life Skills classes arranged by Birth Haven. Examples may include: childbirth and parenting classes, adoption counseling, seminars concerning alcohol/drug abuse, child abuse, single parenting, and so on.
7. If a resident has no High School Diploma or GED, she must arrange to actively work towards earning a High School Diploma and/or GED during her time at Birth Haven.
8. Any resident having a High School Diploma or GED is required to seek employment or job training or to work in a volunteer capacity.
9. As a prospective resident of Birth Haven, you are required to sign a form giving Birth Haven permission to conduct inspections, examinations, and searches of your room and personal property. Such an action would be performed at the discretion of the Executive Director and with the accompaniment of the Social Worker or Evening Supervisor

Disciplinary Actions:

1. During the time that a resident is at Birth Haven, she will be subject to a system of consequences for failing to adhere to the Rules and Requirements:
   Specifically:
   1. During the initial two weeks at Birth Haven, a resident is subject to immediate dismissal or education and redirection of behavior at the discretion of the Executive Director
   2. At the first incident, following the successful completion of the two-week trial period, a verbal warning may be given along with redirection and education. Consequence: loss of a day pass
   3. On the second incident a written warning may be given, along with redirection and education. Consequence: loss of one overnight pass
   4. On the third incident, a written warning may be given, along with redirection and education. Consequence: loss of one overnight pass.
   5. On the fourth incident a resident may be dismissed immediately and will not be permitted to return to Birth Haven as a resident.
   6. Notwithstanding the above, the Executive Director reserves the discretion to dismiss a resident immediately for any of the following violations:
      1. Violence
      2. Threats of violence
      3. Weapons possession
      4. Possession of alcohol or drugs or being under the influence of alcohol of drugs
      5. Sleeping with infant in bed
      6. Theft from Birth Haven, staff, residents or others

House Conduct

1. Residents are to be up by 8:30am and showered and dressed by 9:30am. Beds are to be made by 9:30am. Residents are expected to keep their bedroom or sleeping area clean and tidy at all times. Residents are expected to pick up after themselves in all common living areas of Birth Haven.
2. Household chores are assigned weekly and are to be done thoroughly on Mondays and Fridays, and completed to the satisfaction of the Evening Supervisor. The chores should be done no later than immediately after dinner and must be completed by 7:30 PM. They will be checked by staff and, if not satisfactory, the resident will be required to re-do the chore(s).
3. Evening curfew is 9pm. Each resident must be in the Birth Haven home and remain there. If a residents return is unavoidably delayed, the resident should contact staff as soon as possible. Failure to comply with this rule may result in dismissal.
4. Residents must be in their rooms by 11pm, and settled into their beds by 11:30pm.
5. Residents are not permitted in another resident’s room unless invited.
6. Birth Haven is an alcohol-free, illegal-drug-free, and smoke-free facility. No resident is permitted to use or have in her possession:
   1. Tobacco products of any kind.
   2. Illegal drugs or controlled dangerous substances (CDS)
   3. Prescription drugs unless stored in their prescription container and issued by a licensed NJ pharmacist. These drugs, as stipulated by Birth Haven’s Liability Insurance Guidelines, are to be turned over to the Executive Director, Social Worker, or Evening Supervisor to be secured in a lock box and administered to residents as needed. Records of distribution will be maintained.
   4. Alcoholic beverages and liquors of any kind.
   5. Any other illegal or hazardous substance.
7. Smoking is not allowed in the Birth Haven house, on the Birth Haven property or on Academy Street. Birth Haven discourages the use of tobacco products at any time or any place because it is detrimental to the resident and her unborn baby.
8. There may be NO use of profanity at any time for any reason.
9. Violent or abusive behavior, speech, or threats—including threatening actions, words, and innuendoes, will not be tolerated at Birth Haven and will almost certainly result in immediate dismissal.
10. Residents are required to assist with special Birth Haven projects from time to time. All are required to participate. These projects are not eligible for points.
11. Any resident not returning from a day or overnight pass without prior permission from staff could lose her bed and may not be allowed to continue living at Birth Haven. Personal items may be stored for 30 days, after which time they will be disposed of immediately.
12. Problems between residents should be settled with the assistance of the Social Worker. If necessary the Executive Director will become involved, and the Social Worker and Executive Director will meet with the resident.
13. Residents are required to participate in all Life Skills and group activities provided by and sponsored by Birth Haven. Participation is expected during speakers/presentations. Residents are not permitted to leave a presentation to answer or talk on the telephone. Residents are only permitted to leave a presentation with permission from the speaker and for truly necessary reasons.
14. The Life Skills room is primarily intended for scheduled and/or organized activities. Residents are not permitted to eat meals in this room. If the doors to the Life Skills room are closed please do not interrupt as staff may be holding meetings inside. No snacks or drinks are allowed by the computers.
15. All Birth Haven offices and the Evening Supervisor’s apartment are off limits to the residents unless special permission is given.
16. No resident of Birth Haven is permitted to loiter or ‘hang around’ the streets or shopping centers.

Meals and Cooking:

1. Breakfast and lunch are your choice and you are responsible for making them.
2. The evening meal will be served at 6pm. Residents are expected to be present at the dinner table and to share in the responsibility of cleaning up. Residents are expected to be at the evening meal unless prior arrangements have been made with the Evening Supervisor, Social Worker or Executive Director.
3. Each resident is responsible for preparing an evening meal(s) for the house each week. Each evening meal must contain a protein, carbohydrate, a vegetable, and a fruit. Depending on the number of residents at Birth Haven, meal responsibility will be divided among the residents equitably. For example: If there are three residents each resident will be responsible to cook two times. Menus are due on Wednesday and will be reviewed by the Evening Supervisor and Executive Director. Residents are expected to participate in weekly grocery shopping on a rotating basis.
4. It is the responsibility of the cook to clean all cooking utensils and to carefully and immediately store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
5. Residents are expected to clean away all mess, empty plates, bottles, cups, utensils and ingredients from the preparation of their breakfast, lunch or snacks.
6. Residents are not permitted to use the stove or oven for cooking after 9pm.
7. Food and drinks are allowed in the kitchen and dining areas only. No food may be kept in the bedroom, living room, or Life Skills room.

Medications and Illness:

1. Upon admission to Birth Haven, anyone taking a prescription medication must inform the Social Worker/Evening Supervisor. Medications will be kept in the Medicine Cabinet and will be dispensed by staff in accordance with protocol. Medication must be kept in the original prescription bottle/container with instructions written out. It is the resident’s responsibility to notify staff when she needs her medications.
2. In case of illness, the Social Worker, Executive Director, Evening Supervisor, or weekend substitute must be notified immediately.

Visitors:

1. No resident’s guests are allowed in the offices or bedroom areas in the house. Limited visits with family or friends may take place in the reception area at the discretion of staff.
2. Other visits are to take place off Birth Haven property. Exceptions to this rule are to be decided by the Social Worker, Evening Supervisor, or Executive Director.

Entertainment:

1. Television is allowed in the den and Life Skills Room only after 5pm and after 4pm on Friday. TV is turned off during the evening meal and until all chores are completed and checked by the Evening Supervisor. Residents may watch a morning news show only and between the hours of 7-9am. TV is permitted on the weekends from 7am until Midnight.
2. Radios may be played softly in rooms so that they are not heard elsewhere in the house.
3. Movies and videos/DVD’s with a rating in excess of PG-13 may not be watched at Birth Haven or kept at Birth Haven. Residents owning such movies should give them to the Social Worker for safe storage until the resident leaves or arranges to take them off the property, at which time they will returned to the resident.

Telephones:

1. Personal calls are to be made on the kitchen phone and are limited to 15 minutes each call. No calls may be made or received after 11pm, except in the case of an emergency and with permission of the evening supervisor.
2. Residents are expected to respect the call waiting and to answer incoming calls and to take accurate and timely messages. The residents’ phone may not be answered during Life Skills or during the evening meal.
3. Residents may not use staff phones except in unusual circumstances and with prior permission from staff.
4. Residents of Birth Haven are not allowed to have cellular telephones and/or beepers while residing at our facility. The Social Worker will lock up the cell phone and will return it to a resident when she leaves for an overnight pass.
5. Residents should follow the Telephone Guidelines posted by the residents’ phone in the kitchen.

Transportation:

1. No minor residing at Birth Haven may be a passenger in a car driven by an individual who is under 18 years of age.
2. Any transportation a resident requests from staff is provided at the discretion of the staff. Residents are responsible for setting up their own transportation arrangements, including medical transportation. The Social Worker will provide assistance in scheduling this.
3. All infants must be securely buckled into car seats and bases must be secured in any Birth Haven vehicle. Residents are required to wear seat belts at all times when in Birth Haven vehicles.
4. Residents are not allowed to keep personal vehicles at Birth Haven.

Passes:

1. Before leaving the Birth Haven home, every resident must tell the Social Worker or Evening Supervisor where she is going and when she will return. Signing out, day passes, or overnight passes are required depending on which is applicable.
2. Residents leaving Birth Haven for less than two hours should use the sign-out sheet. Residents leaving Birth Haven for more than two hours should complete a Day Pass or Overnight Pass..
3. Residents may be permitted one Friday Overnight Pass and One Saturday Overnight Pass every calendar month to be away from Birth Haven. Permission must be signed by the Social Worker, no later than 4pm of the Thursday before the departure.
4. In addition to the monthly passes, Birth Haven residents may have overnight passes for the following Holidays: New Year’s Eve and Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day through the following week-end, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
5. Each resident is entitled to a week-end pass on the occasion of her birthday.
6. Holiday and Birthday passes are not transferable.

New Mothers:

1. Guidelines for "New Moms" must be followed – see attached
2. All residents must have a support/coach who will be available to them during their labor and delivery. No member of the Birth Haven staff or other Birth Haven residents can be used for this purpose. Birth Haven can provide names of volunteers who are trained as childbirth coaches.
3. Residents are not permitted to visit another Birth Haven resident who has given birth until 24 hours after the delivery, even if the woman who gave birth is asking her to come.
4. Residents are asked to be mindful of the Birth Haven furniture. Babies should not be changed on furniture, but rather on changing tables and pads that are provided. Babies should not sleep on the furniture, but should be placed in bassinettes.
5. Babies: The following rules will apply regarding all babies in the household:
   1. All babies must sleep in their own bedding (cribs, bassinets). At no time will a baby be allowed to sleep in the same bed with mom, or nap on mom’s bed!!
   2. All diapers must be changed on the changing table in the living room or in your bedroom. Dirty diapers must be discarded in the garbage next to the changing table in the living room or in a diaper pail. There receptacles must be emptied daily.
   3. All babies must be bathed in the bathroom or laundry area.
   4. At no time should a baby be left unattended, especially while awake.
   5. Pre-made bottles are limited to two at a time. Formula can be made and left in a marked container for use as needed.
   6. Bottles should be washed properly and promptly and should be stored
   7. Babies clothing must be kept in your dresser and storage box only. Using another dresser, or piling boxes and/or clothing throughout your room is not permitted.
6. Residents are not permitted to leave their babies in the care of another resident or staff.
7. Residents may use Baby Monitors to supervise their babies while they are in Birth Haven house and while they are on Birth Haven property (e.g., taking out the garbage). Residents may not leave the property without taking their babies with them.

Money, Valuables and Entitlements:

1. Residents are not permitted to apply for food stamps while living at Birth Haven. If a resident comes to Birth Haven with food stamps she will be required to suspend that privilege or leave her card at home with her family.
2. No money from a resident’s savings account will be dispersed after 3:30pm during the week, or from Friday’s at 3:30pm until Monday at 8:30am.
3. Residents are required to deposit at least 60% of any money they receive into a savings account for them at Birth Haven. Residents will be given a full accounting of their savings and money will be disbursed in full upon a resident’s discharge from Birth Haven. Residents are required to contribute 15% of any and all money they receive to Birth Haven as compensation for their stay at Birth Haven. Residents may retain 25% of any and all money they receive as spending money.
4. Residents are strongly advised against lending money to or borrowing money from other residents.
5. Residents are not permitted to borrow money from staff or volunteers.
6. Birth Haven is not responsible for any property or valuables that are lost, stolen, or broken. Residents are strongly encouraged to use the lock boxes provided.
7. Residents are required to apply for and use WIC coupons while at Birth Haven.

Confidentiality:

1. Residents are not permitted to give out any identifying or personal information regarding another resident. Confidentiality is a priority and breaking this rule could result in dismissal.
2. Computers in the Life Skills room are for the residents. Residents are expected to keep their password confidential. The Executive Director will review all internet activity for appropriateness but will not review your documents.

I understand these rules and will obey them while I am a resident of Birth Haven.

Approved Board of Trustees – January 9, 2006 – revised January 2007