Statement of the Hon. Suzanne Jeskewitz, State Representative,
Wisconsin State Assembly

I would like to urge you to maintain the full funding for maternity group homes that President Bush has allocated in the Health and Human Services fiscal year 2002 budget.

As a State Representative in Wisconsin, I have been working on state legislation to allow private organizations to establish and operate maternity group homes, commonly referred to as Second Chance Homes, for pregnant and parenting teenage girls. While developing this legislation, I had the opportunity to visit a Second Chance Home. The life skills that these mothers learn while living in a Second Chance Home are invaluable. They learn money management skills, responsibility, how to be a contributing member of society and most importantly how to be a good mother. Many of these girls come from broken homes themselves and are in danger of repeating the cycle of irresponsible parenting. These homes show them that there are other options available and teach them how to choose the best path.

The legislation that I am advocating in Wisconsin currently does not have a funding source. We are counting on the benevolence of society to help us fund these homes. The support that we have received already has been very encouraging, but living on the hope of generosity is a scary prospect. The funding that has been allocated by President Bush will be a start for the development and operation of Second Chance Homes all over the country. This will be money that these homes can depend on. The money will provide stability for the operators of these homes who in turn provide a safe, stable, secure environment for these young mothers and their new babies.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for President Bush’s proposal for $33 million in the Health and Human Services budget for maternity group homes.