During 1995 in Fayette County, 38 unwed teen girls gave birth and 55 more had abortions, according to Department of Health statistics.

From 1993 through 1996, the rate of unwed teen births per thousand in the county has climbed from 15.6 to 17.3.

The statistics disturb 18-year-old Patricia Buckley, and she says her dream is to provide help for teenaged girls in trouble by establishing a home for unwed mothers somewhere in Fayetteville.

"If it weren't for Birth Haven [a similar home in her native New Jersey], I don't know what I would have done," said Buckley.

Pregnant at 16 and on her own, Buckley was desperate, she said. "I had nowhere to go. I couldn't take care of myself, much less a baby. Everyone told me to get an abortion," she said, but that choice wasn't acceptable to her.

She investigated group homes, looking both in Georgia (where the baby's father had moved) and in New Jersey, but all of the homes provided havens only during pregnancy. The client had to leave after giving birth.

The emphasis was on having the child and giving it up for adoption, something she considered and rejected, Buckley said. "I was determined to keep my son." Finally, she found Birth Haven.

The group home not only provided shelter during her pregnancy, but also shelter, counseling, education, parenting classes and job training after her son Christian was born. She developed some job skills and eventually moved to Georgia to apply them, even though the baby's father is no longer in the picture and providing no support. "It's just so much cheaper to live down here," she said. "This is where I've gotten my life started."

But simply working and making a living isn't enough for her, she said. She looks at the number of abortions taking place during 1995, 17.3 per thousand in ages 15-17 and 20.1 per thousand among those aged 18-19, not counting those who leave the county and wants to help. "I still know a lot of teenage girls in the area, and many of them have told me that if they knew [a group home] was available, they probably would have made a different decision," she said.

"I just feel like this is what I have to do," added Buckley. Now engaged, she is getting complete support and encouragement from her fiance, Marcos Silva, she said.

Working with the well-known Crisis Pregnancy Centers, she has begun gathering information and support in hopes of forming a steering committee. "It's in the very, very beginning stages," she admitted.

One local church is helping already, and she hopes to attract interest from others, said Buckley.

She approached Fayetteville's Planning Commission recently for advice on where to locate such a facility. "Why Fayetteville?" commissioners wanted to know. "Fayetteville has a night school with child care," Buckley said.

The facility she envisions would house both pregnant teens and young mothers who opted not to give up their babies for adoption, teaching them life skills and job skills and eventually sending them on their way. Being able to work at jobs and go to school nearby at night would be a big plus, she said.

"You have to do something with your life," she added.

Professional volunteers pediatricians, nurses, counselors, etc. would help with the project, and financial support would come from private donations and grants.

Commissioners told her that homes in the city's residential/professional zoning category would be best for such a facility, and Buckley said this week she already has a Realtor on the lookout for a suitable site.

The emphasis would be on serving Fayette residents, Buckley said, but those from outside the county might be admitted if there is space.