Thirteen-year-old Erica's family rented a spare room to a neighborhood friend experiencing tough times. Nearly a year later, Erica's mother discovered Erica was pregnant and in her eighth month. Erica had been terrified to tell her mother their "friend" had been sexually abusing her. Devastated, her mother sought help and found it at the CCAC.
Erica arrived at the Center depressed and suicidal. The CCAC's Pregnant and Parenting Teen (PPT) program intervened with a crisis plan to get Erica immediate help. Once Erica was feeling better, she began options counseling. Erica had a difficult time deciding whether to keep the baby and risk continually reliving her abuse, or place the baby for adoption. The PPT team work closely with Erica and her mother to assess choices, and let Erica decide what to do.
Erica chose to raise her baby, but the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy left her confused about how to love and care for her child. Although therapy was initially painful, Erica began working though her emotions and learning valuable skills.
Based on the investigation of Erica's case, the abuser was arrested and confessed to committing the crime. He was tried and convicted, and is serving time in prison.
In the two years since the baby was born, Erica and her family have flourished. The family moved into a new home and feels safe knowing the abuser is in jail. Thanks to the PPT program, Erica has returned to school, is taking a parenting class and is on her way to healing.