Nurse serves as Lighthouse board member

Nurse Sandra Scott, BSN, MBA, found a way to pursue her passion outside the realm of health care.

Scott serves on the board of directors for Lighthouse, a maternity home and adoption agency in Kansas City.

During the day Scott works as a case manager for Allied National Inc. She said she became involved with Lighthouse because she believes in the mission of the organization.

“I have always wanted to be involved in the board at Lighthouse,” Scott said. “It’s a faith-based organization that makes sure that young women can choose the future of their own life and the life of their baby.”

According to its Web site, the Lighthouse mission is “to provide love, support and guidance to those experiencing unplanned pregnancies by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs before, during and after their pregnancies.”

The organization provides housing to mothers-to-be age 12 to 21. These girls and women live in an undisclosed house in Kansas City where they receive pre-natal support. They are also connected to public or vocational schools to further their education.

“What we do at the maternity home is provide love, support and guidance,” Scott said.

The maternity house can hold up to eight girls.

Lighthouse Interim Executive Director Anna Rizzi said there are usually about six girls in the maternity house at any given time. Rizzi said girls who come to the maternity house seek a safe, secure place to stay during their pregnancy. These girls hear about Lighthouse through a variety of ways.

“A lot of it is through churches, schools, word of mouth,” Rizzi said. “Everybody has a different story.”

Some of the girls who stay at the Lighthouse during their pregnancy choose to raise their babies while others choose adoption.

“Some girls come to us just to choose our adoption agency,” Rizzi said. “We have seen an increased number in the last year who choose adoption.”

Girls do not have to live in the Lighthouse maternity house to utilize the organization’s services. Lighthouse has programs on Tuesday night that provide girls with information on a variety of topics.

“They can stay in our outreach program for as long as they want,” Rizzi said.

Scott said her work on the board of directors at Lighthouse provides her another outlet for many of the traits she uses as a nurse, such as compassion.

“The circumstances that surround how they came to the Lighthouse can be hard,” Scott said. “(The Lighthouse) is a very wonderful, loving environment.”

As a board member, Scott organizes fundraisers, coordinates tours and speaks to groups about Lighthouse.

“A nurse has to assess many situations, and that’s what it’s like on the board,” she said. “You are part of a team.”

Scott encourages other nurses to get involved in nonprofit organizations.

“I plan to be on the board as long as they will have me,” Scott said. “It’s a wonderful thing especially for people who are thinking about the last half of their life and what they believe in.”

Lighthouse currently needs volunteers to provide child care during the Tuesday evening programs. For more information about Lighthouse, visit www.lighthousekc.org.

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