Syracuse Woman Volunteers As Caregiver For Teen Parents While They Attend School
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Joanne Shartzer, 69, who has served as a volunteer for the program for the past three years, sat Monday morning rocking to sleep one of the three infants who are in the program.
Shartzer, a Syracuse resident who has 16 grandchildren of her own, serves as a "grandmother" to the infants and toddlers in the program.
Shartzer spends two days a week, four hours each day taking care of the program's three infants. She helps staff members take care of the infants. Her shift typically begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. She also is on-call to cover an unplanned absence of other volunteers.
Parents drop off their children at the program at 7:30 a.m. and pick up the children at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are cared for by staff and volunteers.
There are three separate rooms for infants to 4 months old, a mobile room for 5 to 12 months old, and a toddler room for 13 months old and older.
Teen Parents Succeeding Inc. was founded in 1991 by an area resident who had a daughter who was a teen parent. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to provide childcare for students who attend Wawasee High School and have infants and toddlers of their own.
Margaret Grady, lead caregiver, said Shartzer is a great help to the program.
"Joanne means the world to us, and is a great help," Grady said.
Tania Semons, a senior at Wawasee High School, has a 5-month-old son Joshua and a 3-month-old nephew Itzik who Joanne takes care of when she is at school.
"It makes me feel safe that the children are being played with, and Joanne gives them attention," Semons said.
Once the infants in Shartzer's care are fed, burped, diapered, rocked and comfortably sleeping, Shartzer can be found reading a story to the toddlers who refer to her as "Jo Jo." She also supervises meals or does the infants' and toddlers' laundry.
She also uses her love of photography by taking pictures of the infants and gives the photos to their parents.
Before volunteering with Teen Parents, Shartzer cleaned homes and was a caretaker for the elderly. She retired five years ago.
Shartzer discovered the Teen Parents program in a newspaper ad in 2005. She called the program and was told there was a need for volunteers to help with taking care of the program's infants.
Shartzer said the most rewarding thing about serving as a volunteer is seeing the infants and toddlers grow.
"It is amazing to watch the infants grow, and be there to see them take their first steps," Shartzer said.
"I think God led me here to take care of the infants while their parents are getting an education so they can get an education to provide for their sons and daughters."
Teen Parents Director Brandi Schmitt said the purpose of the program is to educate and encourage teen parents to succeed in life by developing the skills to reach their full potential.
Schmitt leads the classes with presenters from area organizations. The classes teach the parents life skills, goal setting, financial planning and various parenting classes.
The program currently has eight teen mothers and a father participating in the program. The parents pay a $20 weekly fee and must participate in the weekly parent enrichment classes at Wawasee High School.
There are eight board members who oversee the program, and seven volunteers who help take care of the children. The program currently oversees nine babies ranging from ages 3 months old to 2 years old.
Schmitt said Shartzer sets a good example to the parents when caring for their children.
"Joanne is a great volunteer, and we value her help, and are always looking for volunteers," Schmitt said.
To serve as a volunteer, a person must be 16 years of age and complete a background check, drug test and a Tuberculosis test.
Anyone wanting to volunteer or learn more about Teen Parents Succeeding Inc. can call Schmitt at 574-457-3541.[[In-content Ad]]
Joanne Shartzer, 69, who has served as a volunteer for the program for the past three years, sat Monday morning rocking to sleep one of the three infants who are in the program.
Shartzer, a Syracuse resident who has 16 grandchildren of her own, serves as a "grandmother" to the infants and toddlers in the program.
Shartzer spends two days a week, four hours each day taking care of the program's three infants. She helps staff members take care of the infants. Her shift typically begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. She also is on-call to cover an unplanned absence of other volunteers.
Parents drop off their children at the program at 7:30 a.m. and pick up the children at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are cared for by staff and volunteers.
There are three separate rooms for infants to 4 months old, a mobile room for 5 to 12 months old, and a toddler room for 13 months old and older.
Teen Parents Succeeding Inc. was founded in 1991 by an area resident who had a daughter who was a teen parent. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to provide childcare for students who attend Wawasee High School and have infants and toddlers of their own.
Margaret Grady, lead caregiver, said Shartzer is a great help to the program.
"Joanne means the world to us, and is a great help," Grady said.
Tania Semons, a senior at Wawasee High School, has a 5-month-old son Joshua and a 3-month-old nephew Itzik who Joanne takes care of when she is at school.
"It makes me feel safe that the children are being played with, and Joanne gives them attention," Semons said.
Once the infants in Shartzer's care are fed, burped, diapered, rocked and comfortably sleeping, Shartzer can be found reading a story to the toddlers who refer to her as "Jo Jo." She also supervises meals or does the infants' and toddlers' laundry.
She also uses her love of photography by taking pictures of the infants and gives the photos to their parents.
Before volunteering with Teen Parents, Shartzer cleaned homes and was a caretaker for the elderly. She retired five years ago.
Shartzer discovered the Teen Parents program in a newspaper ad in 2005. She called the program and was told there was a need for volunteers to help with taking care of the program's infants.
Shartzer said the most rewarding thing about serving as a volunteer is seeing the infants and toddlers grow.
"It is amazing to watch the infants grow, and be there to see them take their first steps," Shartzer said.
"I think God led me here to take care of the infants while their parents are getting an education so they can get an education to provide for their sons and daughters."
Teen Parents Director Brandi Schmitt said the purpose of the program is to educate and encourage teen parents to succeed in life by developing the skills to reach their full potential.
Schmitt leads the classes with presenters from area organizations. The classes teach the parents life skills, goal setting, financial planning and various parenting classes.
The program currently has eight teen mothers and a father participating in the program. The parents pay a $20 weekly fee and must participate in the weekly parent enrichment classes at Wawasee High School.
There are eight board members who oversee the program, and seven volunteers who help take care of the children. The program currently oversees nine babies ranging from ages 3 months old to 2 years old.
Schmitt said Shartzer sets a good example to the parents when caring for their children.
"Joanne is a great volunteer, and we value her help, and are always looking for volunteers," Schmitt said.
To serve as a volunteer, a person must be 16 years of age and complete a background check, drug test and a Tuberculosis test.
Anyone wanting to volunteer or learn more about Teen Parents Succeeding Inc. can call Schmitt at 574-457-3541.[[In-content Ad]]
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