Feel Good Friday – Teen Mother Choices of Crown Point by Janell Rottier with introduction by Lisa J.
Hometown Happenings’ Feel Good Friday post this week is one that hits close to home for me. Once a single mom myself attempting to navigate the many facets of parenting in what could be an incredible and incredibly scary journey, I am overwhelmed with joy that Teen Mother Choices exists right here in our beautiful city. What an amazing gift to the young mothers who are at the beginning of their life story themselves in this sometimes harsh world and just need the support, guidance and love along the path as a new mom. I was over the moon to read just how this amazing organization began and all the resources and services they provide. Hometown Happenings is a proud supporter of Teen Mother Choices of Crown Point at their Run Like and Mother 5K/2K, and we are happy to present their story to you on this Feel Good Friday.
What is Teen Mother Choices of Crown Point and how did it get started? This all got started when I became a mom myself and was juggling at the time 2 little ones. I remember being completely tired, overwhelmed, and just plain lost in this whole motherhood journey. I just remember God placing on my heart the thought of single moms and how they are doing this all by themselves and some with no to very little family or outside support. Wondering how they do this lead me to do some research. At first, I started at first a support group for young moms ages 15-23 that met twice a month out of our church, the Christian Reformed Church of Crown Point. But, as it continued to grow, it also became very overwhelming with all the needs, issues, and direction of where to go. Then, my husband told me to listen on the radio because they where interviewing a lady that works with teen moms with a program she created. That happened to be the founder of Teen Mother Choices International. After much prayer and even more time, we did a feasibility study to see the exact needs of teen moms in our area. Deciding there was a need, we went through training and now we are an official Teen Mother Choices affiliate. We are a program that works with already parenting young moms to restore their dignity, build relationships that impact their lives, and help them gain independence so they can afford life for them and their child(ren). We do this by offering weekly life-skill workshops, one on one mentoring, financial advisors, and goal setting and follow thru. As long as they are doing all the above, we will help in paying the weekly childcare costs and/or costs relating to further their education. We work with a young mom for 3-5 years (or longer if need be) until she is no longer relying on government assistance to just survive but is taught the life-skills that lead her to thrive.
What impact has the program had on our community? Through the years we have had so many great moms walk through our doors but I will highlight one of our most recent moms. She started coming to us when she was 20 and is the mother to 2 beautiful girls. She was living with her husband who at the time was in the beginning stages of a relapse in his addiction. She had limited family and no friends in the area along with no steady income. She had begun taking classes in the nursing program at Ivy Tech, but kept having to miss class because she couldn’t find or afford reliable childcare. Also, she was about to lose her only source of transportation to a title loan she had taken out months earlier to cover the cost of a car repair. And to top that off, she had no legal rights to her step daughter, who she & her husband had raised together since she was 14 months old. She felt stuck and completely hopeless and knew a miracle would be only way to save her from her current situation. She filled out an application for Teen Mother Choices and, one year later, she was able to attain legal custody of her step daughter. She also now has reliable transportation, consistent and reliable childcare, a solid support network in Teen Mother Choices. Her mentor has been working with her to accomplish each and every one of her goals. With the monthly help of meeting with the financial advisors thru Teen Mother Choices, she is also able to pay off most of her debt which had been over $3,000. She also started an emergency savings account. Her husband is continuing to do well in and is living with his parents as he is making a lot of steps toward recovery. She has one semester left of nursing school and is doing so well her professor recently asked her if she would consider tutoring other incoming students for the class. The professor offered her this paid position as he was so impressed with her drive and grades. At the life-skill workshops Teen Mother Choices offeres her, she is learning to create a resume, set healthy boundaries thru complex relationships, and connect with other moms thru the monthly discussion group time. In her own words “Teen Mother Choices acted as the miracle I continuously fantasized about a year ago. Thank you to everyone for continuing to make donations that enable the program to do Gods work and act as a miracle in the lives of young women like myself, who have the motivation and drive but lack opportunity and resources to create better lives for ourselves and our children.”
How can you get involved? At the Run Like a Mother 5K/2K, we will be collecting the following donations for 
Teen Mother Choices:
- laundry detergent
- diapers size 4,5, & 6
- Pull ups size 3t/4t and 4t/5t
- Toliet paper
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes
- Shampoo/conditioner, body wash
- Toothpaste
You can get involved by connected with us thru social media on Facebook at Teen Mother Choices of Crown Point or Instagram @TMCcrownpoint. Donations can also be dropped off at 909 E Greenwood Ave Crown Point, IN Monday thru Thursday from 8-4.
Thank you Teen Mother Choices for providing the hand of guidance to our young mothers with invaluable life lessons, support and love. Hometown Happenings and all the families touched by your kindness are more than grateful for your time and your beautiful hearts.
To support Teen Mother Choices, sign up for Hometown Happenings Run Like a Mother 5K/2K!!