Parenting is a tough job, and doing it alone is even more challenging. Maggie* is a 17-year-old single mom with two children under three years old named Abby* and Jeremy*. When Maggie learned about the programs offered at Brightpoint’s Scott Child & Family Center in Bloomington, she tapped into resources that connected her to a supportive community.
Maggie enrolled Abby and Jeremy in the Scott Child & Family Center because it offers high-quality early childhood care and education for economically disadvantaged families and additional family support services. Through the Scott Child & Family Center, Maggie built a dedicated support network, including case managers, therapists, and counselors she could turn to for help.
Even with this comprehensive support system in place, Maggie still struggled with the unique challenges and social stigmas of being a mother while still developing as a teenager herself. The stress made Maggie feel isolated, but no one should have to navigate parenthood or being a teen alone.
Brightpoint meets families where they are and helps them identify what they need to thrive. What Maggie needed was a connection with someone who understood what it was like to raise children while still finding their own place in the world.
Staff connected Maggie to Jenny* – a mom who came to Brightpoint nine years earlier as a single teenage parent. Jenny shared how Brightpoint helped her navigate her own challenges and was ready to take what she learned and pay it forward to another young mom.
The two moms instantly connected and formed a close friendship! Maggie was relieved to finally have a friend who understood her. Jenny’s experiences building a life that is stable and allows her two children to thrive truly inspired Maggie. Jenny did not have many “mom” friends herself and genuinely valued their friendship. She was proud that she could give back to a program that supported her through some of the most challenging years of her life by mentoring Maggie as she struggled to overcome similar challenges.
Thanks to Brightpoint's resources and generous donors like you who support our programs, Maggie and Jenny acquired the resources they need to build a community for themselves and their children.
*Names have been changed to protect participants’ privacy.
