Services
The Miami County Center for Life, located in Troy, OH, is the heart of our outreach ministry. It is a resource to Miami County families in need by providing parenting education, material assistance through the Baby Pantry, and referrals to other community agencies. The Center for Life aims to improve the lives of children through partnerships with families and communities because every child deserves a safe, nurturing and loving home.
The Center for Life’s services are offered through the following programs:
Miami County Baby Pantry
Every day in Miami County mothers face having to clean out and reuse soiled diapers or – sometimes – having to choose between diapers and other basic needs like food. In 2010 Huggies conducted a study that found 1 in 3 American moms have had to face this choice.
At the Miami County Center for Life we offer a public Baby Pantry to low-income families in Miami County and have offered this service to the community for more than 10 years. In 2011 we were able to provide 2,973 packs of 20 diapers to hundreds of babies in our county with the support of a very caring community. That’s close to 60,000 diapers that we distributed!
In addition to diapers, the Center for Life provides other basic necessities to parents and their babies in Miami County. In 2011, we distributed the following: 422 cans of formula; 441 jars/boxes of food; 1,442 bags of baby clothes; 209 maternity clothes; 7 bassinettes; 5 toddler beds; 7 cribs; 47 mattresses; 40 strollers; 9 play pens; 2 baby swings; 21 high chairs; 811 toys; 166 Christmas toys/gifts; 6 pregnancy test kits; 25 car seats; and 1,691 miscellaneous items. This was made possible through the generosity of individual donors, county businesses, churches, and community organizations.
Help a Little Bottom Today
Together, we can help more babies have enough diapers and essential items to prevent adverse experiences, like diaper need, early in life. The Miami County Baby Pantry survives only on in-kind and monetary donations, and relies on community support to keep it stocked with baby items like formula, diapers and wipes. Donations may be dropped off at the Center for Life during office hours.
Did you know?
- Infants need up to 12 diapers per day; toddlers about 8 diapers per day.
- Government assistance, such as WIC (i.e. food stamps), does not cover diaper purchases (or other paper goods).
- In low-income households, babies often spend the entire day or longer in a single diaper because the family cannot afford to buy an adequate supply of diapers (an adequate supply of diapers costs over $100/month).
Healthy Moms Healthy Babies
Healthy Moms Healthy Babies is a video-based parenting education program geared towards low-income pregnant women in Miami County who are committed to making healthy life changes. In viewing two videos and discussing the content with a facilitator, participants will learn how their behaviors impact their growing child, and they will discover positive parenting techniques that will help them rear a physically, mentally and emotionally healthy child. Upon completion of the program, moms will receive a new crib and mattress or a new portable crib with crib sheet.
Clients may come to the Miami County Center for Life in Troy during our regular office hours to start the program. We encourage participants to arrive at the center at least 45 minutes before closing to ensure that they will complete a video within that visit.
Graco Pack ‘n Play portable crib comes with mattress and crib sheets.
Traditional crib from Ikea comes with mattress.
In-House Library
Reference books on pro-life and parenting issues are available to check out from our small library. Please contact one of our office workers to review which books are available and to fill out a library card.
Referrals
The office staff at the Center for Life makes referrals for our clients on a daily basis to many social service organizations within Miami County. Some of the local agencies with which we work are as follows: the Family Abuse Center, the Upper Valley Medical Center, Food Pantries, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Troy FISH, Well-Child Clinic, Miami County Children Services, the Bethany Center and others.
Consulting & Consoling
We offer a private side room to clients who are seeking confidential consultation with one of our trained office staff. This space also serves as an education room where clients can meet with an facilitator to view parenting videos. In December, the room is transformed into a Christmas gift shop in which clients may purchase new or gently-used toys and games for their children at a reduced cost.