Tulsa World: The economy's littlest victims

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The economy's littlest victims
Emergency Infant Services program hard hit during recession

Families in need can turn to the nonprofit agency Emergency Infant Services at 222 S. Houston Ave. For more information, contact EIS at 582-2469. Courtesy

By JANET PEARSON Associate Editor
Published: 7/26/2009 3:52 AM
Last Modified: 7/26/2009 4:42 AM

The office was closed, so workers were surprised when a car sped up to the main entrance, and alarmed when the driver flew out of the car and raced to the door. "It looked like we were about to be robbed," recalled Eileen Bradshaw.

Someone cautiously opened the door. "He said, 'I know you're closed, but I'm desperate for help with my baby.' " That's all he had to say.

Bradshaw, director of Emergency Infant Services, spent an hour with the young father, learning the family's history in an attempt to help him meet his needs.

The young man and his baby had spent the night before in his car. His wife, the baby's mother, had left that morning on a bus. He was down to his last two diapers and one bottle of formula.

"He told us he had never heard of post-partum depression," Bradshaw continued. The mother's condition was apparently severe; she had attempted suicide multiple times, and he had had to take leave from work because he was afraid to leave her alone with the baby.

Luckily, the young father somehow learned of the program that can help with emergency infant needs. Armed with plenty of diapers and formula, plus new and helpful information on other resources, he was able to take the next few steps toward stability.

Surprisingly, this young father's predicament is not that unusual. In fact, the desperate needs of new parents are becoming frighteningly common in Tulsa — more so with each passing week.

The last week of the month is usually the busiest. It used to be that the EIS staff would see 25-30 families each day of that week. Now, the staff sees that many almost every day, and as many as 50 families a day during the last week of the month.

Bradshaw said the agency set an "all-time record" on a recent Monday with 56 families seeking help.

Many are newcomers hit hard by economic circumstances, and many are families who needed help several years ago, and now need help again.

Bradshaw and her staff hear about job layoffs, about cutbacks in hours leading to extreme financial hardships. She hears from mothers whose husbands have been deported, leaving the family with no income. She hears from families forced to move in with other relatives because of economic hardship, causing all members of the household to struggle to get by.

She recently helped a worried young couple whose sickly baby was losing weight, whose doctor had prescribed a specialty formula, who couldn't afford the $47-per-can cost.

The agency's little clothing boutique will soon be out of summer clothes for children. "We're in pretty dire straits on clothing. We've still got a lot of hot weather ahead of us, and we don't have any boxes (of clothing) left in the back," explained Bradshaw.

The staff is noticing more families in need of food as well as other supplies. In the past fiscal year, one out of every two families needed food; in the prior fiscal year, it was one out of three families.

The EIS staff is increasingly concerned what the future might bring. The clientele growth has been steady since last year, and shows no sign of slowing down. For the fiscal year just ended, the service provided help to about 9,400 individuals (only children are counted, not their parents). In the prior fiscal year, about 7,300 were helped. The huge increase in demand for services caused the agency to go $150,000 over budget.

Other charitable organizations across Tulsa are reporting similar growth in demand for their services. What's especially worrisome is the trend may be far from turning around. While some observers believe the economy may improve later this year, some think Oklahoma's recovery may start later because the downturn was late arriving here.

"This is absolutely the worst ever," said Bradshaw.

"I hope things just kind of level off, but I'm just not seeing that now."

For the babies

Emergency Infant Services was created in 1977 with the support of Second Presbyterian Church, and now is a nonprofit corporation supported by Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran and Christian churches, as well as many individuals, corporations and foundations.

In its first year of operation, emergency services were provided to 1,214 families.

Families in crisis can obtain emergency supplies up to four times a year, which helps tide them over until longer-term solutions are found. Available items include diapers, food and formula, clothing, linens, medications and even cribs and car-seats with the proper referral. The agency is located at 222 S. Houston Ave., on the northwest side of downtown.

For more information, contact EIS at 582-2469.

Janet Pearson 581-8328
janet.pearson@tulsaworld.com By JANET PEARSON Associate Editor

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	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (7/26/2009 8:16:48 AM) When I was a youngster growing up, back in the 40's and 50's, I never heard of such things happening. Either the media didn't cover it or it just didn't happen that often. Now I do remember the term the baby blues after a child was born and mother's felt overwhelmed. It was pretty common as I remember but generations past where a little tougher and pretty much suck it up and it did go away. What they didn't do was abandon their babies. Mothers killing their children was even rarer. I think it has more to do with today's society. We have grown not to accept responsibly as well as we did in the past. We have become spoiled. We don't want the burdens of life's up and downs. Then along comes a fancy name [Post-partum depression] and it's an out. It just not me, it's everyone. Children being born out of wedlock and they [the mother] don't have the family support they once had. During earlier times children were born in a marriage and the families gathered around, today that is sorely lacking. I'm not condemning those that had children out of wedlock, that's life and most do well. Now I know I will be taken to task for my comments and that's okay. I'll endure, I'm stating an opinion not a fact I have nothing to back it up with.
	Report Comment Joninray, Tulsa (7/26/2009 8:37:49 AM) My view...I would agree with what you say so I will stand with you if anyone takes you to taks for your comments, OK?? ;^)
	Report Comment Joninray, Tulsa (7/26/2009 8:38:44 AM) And you really could back it up with simple history and statistics from anywhere...even papers like the Tulsa World.
	Report Comment RLG3RD, Broken Arrow (7/26/2009 9:00:29 AM) I grew up on the 50's and 60's and recall the same things that My View has said, so I would agree that we have become a society where some do not want to take much responsibility for their actions. I have a hard time being sympathetic to people who make bad decisions then expect someone else to take care of them. If you can't afford to have a family you shouldn't have started one.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (7/26/2009 9:03:57 AM) Joninray and RLG3RD Thanks for having my back I may need for the day is out.
	Report Comment Bedazzled, (7/26/2009 9:11:50 AM) What RLG3rd said. However that said, I do feel sad for the small children, it isn't their fault.
	Report Comment Companion, Sperry (7/26/2009 9:15:03 AM) As we advance in technology and terminology we learn more about our world. "Post partum depression" is a term that supersedes "the blues" now, an old term forgotten in the past. Just like ailments in the past that we now call cancer. Cancer is not an "out" for a lot of people. My personal opinion is that "post partum depression" is real. Coined by medical "experts" that fitted the health problem some women encounter.
	Report Comment Democrat, Tulsa County (7/26/2009 9:41:13 AM) "my view" expressed himself well and there was nothing controversial about his opinion. I wonder why he felt the need to become so defensive about his comment? The original story is sad and unfortunately, whatever the causes, appears to be happening more frequently.
	Report Comment Peter Piper, TULSA (7/26/2009 10:00:46 AM) For once, I agree with My View. He/she is correct.Sometimes I think the parents/guardians of the babies waste their money on things like casinos, tobacco, concerts, drugs, etc. even when they have a paycheck. My heart goes out to the truly unemployed or sick, disabled moms and dads.Many thanks to Emergency Infant Services and folks like Ms. Bradshaw and her crew.
	Report Comment Companion, Sperry (7/26/2009 10:09:30 AM) News is everywhere nowadays. Today's society are exponentially informed than a generation ago. You are going to hear and see more than any past generation. Our descendants will be inundated with information. Each generation becomes more smarter and more tolerant. When a woman attempts suicide after a baby is born. It's not referred to the blues anymore, it's called "post partum depression." Medical experts are who they are. The blues was coined by non-experts, perhaps midwifes centuries ago and passed down through the centuries or at least decades.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (7/26/2009 10:32:01 AM) Thanks for the agreement Peter Piper, I'm a guy. Regards of where we stand on the issues their are times when we all can agree.
	Report Comment Democrat, Tulsa County (7/26/2009 11:21:05 AM) insider: You left out the savings on expenses for building prisons and staffing them and the avings on the costs associated with the criminal activities of the children of the pregnant welfare mothers. Mandatory abortions for all "undesirables" appears to be the solution to a whole host of our nation's problems.
	Report Comment Democrat, Tulsa County (7/26/2009 11:21:32 AM) savings, not avings.
	Report Comment Companion, Sperry (7/26/2009 1:03:35 PM) Great comment insider9909. I think the biggest misapprehension here is stereotyping. They are not all gamblers and unresponsible. I highly disagree with "my view" third paragraph on her first comment. A percentage is true but I believe no one on here can be precise as to the exact percentage. But then revert back to insider9909 comment. Thank God or who ever that Obama isn't another Hitler and Stalin. And the repubs thinks Obama is bad.
	Report Comment Galilarm, Keys (7/27/2009 5:51:48 PM) Sounds like someone was not prepared to bring a child into the world. Course I'm one of those weird guys been married since I graduated Highschool we chose not to have kids untill done with college and could support them. Waited ten years and never reggretted it.
	Report Comment Jacky, small town Oklahoma (7/27/2009 6:50:57 PM) My husband e-mailed this story out to all our kids who have little ones and asked if they had anything they could donate. If everyone reading the story would e-mail to all they could think of who might be able to help, maybe we can all make a difference here. It would only take a few minutes out of your day to do this also.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (7/28/2009 12:33:43 PM) my view, Sand Springs When I was a youngster growing up, back in the 40's and 50's, I never heard of such things happening. Either the media didn't cover it or it just didn't happen that often. Now I do remember the term the baby blues after a child was born and mother's felt overwhelmed. It was pretty common as I remember but generations past where a little tougher and pretty much suck it up and it did go away. What they didn't do was abandon their babies. Mothers killing their children was even rarer. I think it has more to do with today's society. We have grown not to accept responsibly as well as we did in the past. We have become spoiled. We don't want the burdens of life's up and downs. Then along comes a fancy name [Post-partum depression] and it's an out. It just not me, it's everyone... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very very well said

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