25 Weeks of Gratitude: Compassion House

Where hope takes root

Olivia Kays

“I felt like I was locked in a closet full of darkness, but when I got here, it was different. I could finally see light.”

The relief 17-year-old Ty describes is evident in her voice, and her face shines with newfound confidence.

In April, Ty made the four-hour journey from Forrest City to Compassion House in Springdale with her 3-year-old son, Cadarion. Ty arrived scared and uncertain after years of navigating the challenges of being a young, single mom.

She was only 13 when she gave birth to Cadarion and later struggled with postpartum depression. So, when she found out she was pregnant again, she wasn’t sure what came next — until Compassion House offered a safe place to begin again.

Compassion House is the only residential facility in Arkansas that provides structured residential care for pregnant and parenting teens across the state. They offer education support, life-skills training and individualized guidance so that young mothers gain confidence and stability during one of the most critical seasons of their lives.

But the journey here, Ty said, wasn’t always easy. As part of the transition into Compassion House, residents are required to give up their cell phones for the first seven days, so they can fully focus on assimilating into their new environment and routine.

“It was hard at first. I was very emotional. Not only because I couldn’t have my phone, but because I couldn’t talk to my grandmother, and she was the only one to take care of me. She took me out of foster care.”

But as Ty got to know the staff, everything quickly changed.

“The staff takes us on outings. The first place we ever went was the library, and I wasn’t quite sure about it.”

However, after some encouragement from the staff, Ty decided to give reading a chance.

“I started reading a graphic novel, and next thing you know, I’m reading books.”

Today, when she isn’t reading the next book in the popular graphic novel series, Dog Man, she’s curled up in the house’s playroom reading children’s books to her son.

“Compassion House made me open my eyes and realize a lot of stuff. Like, hey, you have to step up.”

Now close to her delivery date, Ty is excited about the foundation she’s building for long-term independence. Although she had dreams for the future before, Ty said Compassion House has given her the motivation, resources and support to overcome barriers and take action to make those dreams a reality.

Since moving into Compassion House, Ty worked her first job and is currently studying to get her driving permit and earn her GED.

Ty is also finding joy in the opportunity to give her son new experiences, like visiting a zoo, going to the skating rink, or playing at Chuck E. Cheese – which they recently did for the first time.

But the staff at Compassion House has offered her more than routine and a place to stay – they’ve given her hope and a sense of belonging.

Expectant mothers, like Ty, are paired with professional support systems, including a therapist, a mentor and a labor coach.

Ty’s labor coach worked with her to plan a Winnie the Pooh-themed baby shower, and she was taken aback by all the gifts she received.

“I didn’t think I had so many people who cared about me.”

This experience has also given Ty a renewed sense of appreciation for her home and her grandmother, who raised her.

Like most young teenagers, she couldn’t wait to move out. But now, she looks forward to returning home with a new outlook on life as a single mother and the resources she needs to be independent.

“I didn’t feel like I had a chance, but I feel more confident now. Especially with Compassion House’s help, I know I’ve got this.”

Perhaps one of the most beautiful things about stewardship is the domino effect, and Ty’s story is the perfect example. Her son, her grandmother and her unborn daughter will also reap the benefits of the hope, confidence and tools she has gained through her time at Compassion House.

Furthermore, she hopes to pay it forward one day, possibly by becoming a therapist.

“I want to help people who have been through something similar to what I’ve been through.”

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Blue & You Foundation, 25 Weeks of Gratitude spotlights 25 stories of Arkansans whose lives have been impacted by Foundation-funded work.

*The Blue & You Foundation was established in 2001 through an initial gift from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Since its inception, the Foundation’s financial base has grown through wise and prudent investment strategies. This has enabled the foundation to support its mission by making grants funded by the interest earned on those investments.