The two B.A.B.E. stores, on East 24th and on North Sherman Drive, are stocked mainly with inventory donated through individual contributions. Donations for the program have steadily increased during recent months. A third store, at 1706 Prospect St., will open in June. The B.A.B.E. program is a joint effort of the Marion County Health Department, St. Vincent Community Health Network, Wishard Community Health Centers and Methodist Hospital. The Health Department administers the program, provides warehouse space and printed materials.
Individual sponsors provide store space and managers.
To date several hundred clients have been served. The Postpartum Early Discharge program was implementedin late 1995.Specially trained Public Health Nurses provide in-home infant care training and physical assessments of mother and baby to mothers who delivered at Wishard Hospital and were discharged 24 to 48 hous after delivery. The program serves appoximately 80 new mothers per month. This venture, part of Birthing Project USA and operating under the umbrella of Project Concern, was established in Sacremento, California in 1988. The program pairs a volunteer or Sisterfriend with one pregnant woman or teen during her pregnancy and for a year following the birth of the baby.