For individuals and families in crisis, transitional housing programs offer a critical bridge between emergency shelter and permanent housing. These programs provide temporary and supportive environments to help those in transitional housing successfully move to and maintain permanent housing as their situation improves. For women with young children, transitional housing is often crucial because it provides a safe, stable environment where they can rebuild their lives after experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or financial hardship. Often, these housing programs provide not only shelter but also essential resources to help mothers gain independence and long-term stability away from unsafe living conditions.
The Haven Home in Cleveland, Ohio, opened in 2017 to serve as an emergency shelter for women with children and to address the growing needs of pregnant women, particularly to reduce infant mortality. In 2024, after six years of operating as an overflow shelter, the Haven Home pivoted to becoming a transitional housing program serving pregnant women and mothers with children under age five. Since then, the program has supported over 46 families, 50 children, and celebrated the births of 5 healthy babies.
In addition to housing, the Haven Home offers wraparound services that support the physical, emotional, and social needs of pregnancy and motherhood. Program Manager Rhonda Clark has been using the CAT-MH® (Computerized Adaptive Tests for Mental Health) to assess mental health across several domains–including depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicide, and more–at intake, three months, six months, and departure. These assessments establish a baseline and help the team determine if the services they provide are offering appropriate support.
Mothers can also participate in programs that teach parenting skills and guidance, maintaining healthy relationships and active child-rearing, and counseling sessions to aid in trauma management. The Haven Home also collaborates with local health care providers that grant women onsite access to experienced healthcare professionals including obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, and mental health professionals at no cost. Providers are onsite weekly for education and health screenings. This partnership ensures the receipt of vital, life-saving services for at-risk populations and intends to aid in reducing maternal mortality.
Early results are promising: staff report consistent improvements in maternal mental health, supported by CAT-MH® data and observed outcomes. While residents may initially feel hesitant about the assessments, most become more comfortable with each round and appreciate the insights as they see progress. Executive Director Cindy Rios emphasized the role of this data in tailoring care and enhancing program outcomes. The Haven Home’s success demonstrates that the CAT-MH® can be effectively administered by non-clinicians within a supportive infrastructure, and that data-driven mental health interventions can make a measurable difference in the lives of perinatal women.
We want to thank Cynthia Rios and Rhonda Clark at Haven Home for their pioneering work using the CAT-MH® to support maternal mental health. Monitoring and addressing these needs during this transitional period can have incredible impacts not just for the mothers but their young children as well. We look forward to seeing continued success from this impactful program.
