TNT Childcare Program Expands To Valley
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
About three years ago, her life almost took a different path. She was 15 years old, just had a baby and was ready to quit school. She moved to Warsaw from North Judson to be with the baby's father, but he wasn't supportive.
When her daughter was 6 months old, school officials told her about the TNT Childcare Ministry through Heartline Pregnancy Center Inc. The program made all the difference in the world to her.
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Sweet said having a baby that young was scary. Through the program, she learned she wasn't the only girl going through it. She was given good advice and help.
"I think, just knowing you're not the only person going through it, knowing someone out there knows what you are going through" is a big help, she said. "Financially, it helped a lot."
TNT Childcare Ministry started at the Warsaw Church of God in 1998. In March 2009, it moved to the K21 Health Services Pavilion.
Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, the program is expanding to include Tippecanoe Valley students. A satellite program will be held at the Burket Alternative Education Center.
"Our program is focused around teen and college moms who are trying to finish their education," said Program Coordinator Tirsah Sell. "We are here to help them focus on finishing their education and go on to college. So our main goal is to get them through high school and on to college."
Sell said 98 percent of the girls in the program go on to college.
Since it started 12 years ago, Sell said they've had multiple high school and college moms in and out of the program. During the 2009-10 school year alone, there were 12 girls in the program.
In the program, high school moms go to the program site for one block period of time a day. They receive mentoring and counseling, and get any questions they may have answered. Every Wednesday, they meet for a support group for one hour.
The girls are taught life skills, parenting and devotions. The block period and support group are required parts of the program.
"Tippecanoe Valley wanted to give their girls the same chance we offer here," said Sell. "They decided to open the Alternative Learning Center at Burket for us. So we expanded to the site over there. Tippecanoe Valley saw that they needed TNT in their school district. We will be offering the same services there we offer here."
For the Valley program they will take moms with babies from 2 weeks to 2 years old.[[In-content Ad]]"We will have open enrollment throughout the school year. Our biggest goal is, we want them to succeed in life. What is best for their child is for them to finish their education," said Sell.
There are scholarships available to help the moms pay for the child care they receive through the program. Each girl has to fill out paperwork for Child Care & Development Funds through the state. The funding the state offers helps girls receive discounted child care. The moms are responsible to keep up on their paperwork.
The child care provided is $46 per week. When a mom is in the program, United Way funds the shortfall of scholarship dollars until the mom can get on the voucher program so they don't have to pay a lot of money for child care. There is a long list for the voucher program, Sell said, and can take anywhere from two to six months.
The program also has sponsors for each girl.
Sell said through the Infants Impressions program, community churches or ladies' groups decide to sponsor one of the girls. They send their girl weekly words of encouragement, birthday and Christmas gifts, just so the young moms know someone out there is praying for and encouraging them.
For most of the babies in the program, the father is not involved, said Sell. If the father is involved, they have the option of going through the same program as the moms. Last year, a few fathers did go through the program. Many times, however, Sell said, the fathers start out involved but drop out.
The father of Sweet's baby is still not supportive, Sweet said, but she is making it with the help of the program. And she's doing it for her baby and herself.
"It's just an inspiration to see how she learns and grows," said Sweet of her daughter. "She has inspired me to go on to school and finish my education so I won't struggle financially like I am now. It will teach (my daughter) a big lesson."
When Sweet first came to the program, Sell said, she was scared, backward and shy.
Through the support groups, Sell got to know Sweet pretty well. The two women have been through a lot in Sweet's life together. Sell said she has seen Sweet grow spiritually and emotionally. Sweet grew from an unsure scared girl to being more sure of herself.
"I'm pretty proud of her," Sell said.
"No matter what the situation is, the program has something to give everyone," said Sweet. "It's definitely a scary thing, but once you step into (the program), you feel like you can walk with them forever."
Sell said every girl's situation is different, and the program adapts as is necessary. Some girls are in abusive situations, and some are homeless, having been kicked out of their homes by their parents once they got pregnant.
"Those are situations we are here to help them through," said Sell. "... Whatever personal needs they have, we're going to try to meet that to the best of our ability."
For more information about the Warsaw or Tippecanoe Valley child care program, call Sell at 574-267-6486 or visit online at www.heartlinepregnancycenter.org Sell said a lot of contact information is available on the website.
Registration for the program is taking place this week and next. The Valley program starts Aug. 20 and moms need to be registered before then.
Hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Warsaw and Tippecanoe Valley students have to get their schedule approved through their school to make sure they have an open block period for the program.
About three years ago, her life almost took a different path. She was 15 years old, just had a baby and was ready to quit school. She moved to Warsaw from North Judson to be with the baby's father, but he wasn't supportive.
When her daughter was 6 months old, school officials told her about the TNT Childcare Ministry through Heartline Pregnancy Center Inc. The program made all the difference in the world to her.
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Sweet said having a baby that young was scary. Through the program, she learned she wasn't the only girl going through it. She was given good advice and help.
"I think, just knowing you're not the only person going through it, knowing someone out there knows what you are going through" is a big help, she said. "Financially, it helped a lot."
TNT Childcare Ministry started at the Warsaw Church of God in 1998. In March 2009, it moved to the K21 Health Services Pavilion.
Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, the program is expanding to include Tippecanoe Valley students. A satellite program will be held at the Burket Alternative Education Center.
"Our program is focused around teen and college moms who are trying to finish their education," said Program Coordinator Tirsah Sell. "We are here to help them focus on finishing their education and go on to college. So our main goal is to get them through high school and on to college."
Sell said 98 percent of the girls in the program go on to college.
Since it started 12 years ago, Sell said they've had multiple high school and college moms in and out of the program. During the 2009-10 school year alone, there were 12 girls in the program.
In the program, high school moms go to the program site for one block period of time a day. They receive mentoring and counseling, and get any questions they may have answered. Every Wednesday, they meet for a support group for one hour.
The girls are taught life skills, parenting and devotions. The block period and support group are required parts of the program.
"Tippecanoe Valley wanted to give their girls the same chance we offer here," said Sell. "They decided to open the Alternative Learning Center at Burket for us. So we expanded to the site over there. Tippecanoe Valley saw that they needed TNT in their school district. We will be offering the same services there we offer here."
For the Valley program they will take moms with babies from 2 weeks to 2 years old.[[In-content Ad]]"We will have open enrollment throughout the school year. Our biggest goal is, we want them to succeed in life. What is best for their child is for them to finish their education," said Sell.
There are scholarships available to help the moms pay for the child care they receive through the program. Each girl has to fill out paperwork for Child Care & Development Funds through the state. The funding the state offers helps girls receive discounted child care. The moms are responsible to keep up on their paperwork.
The child care provided is $46 per week. When a mom is in the program, United Way funds the shortfall of scholarship dollars until the mom can get on the voucher program so they don't have to pay a lot of money for child care. There is a long list for the voucher program, Sell said, and can take anywhere from two to six months.
The program also has sponsors for each girl.
Sell said through the Infants Impressions program, community churches or ladies' groups decide to sponsor one of the girls. They send their girl weekly words of encouragement, birthday and Christmas gifts, just so the young moms know someone out there is praying for and encouraging them.
For most of the babies in the program, the father is not involved, said Sell. If the father is involved, they have the option of going through the same program as the moms. Last year, a few fathers did go through the program. Many times, however, Sell said, the fathers start out involved but drop out.
The father of Sweet's baby is still not supportive, Sweet said, but she is making it with the help of the program. And she's doing it for her baby and herself.
"It's just an inspiration to see how she learns and grows," said Sweet of her daughter. "She has inspired me to go on to school and finish my education so I won't struggle financially like I am now. It will teach (my daughter) a big lesson."
When Sweet first came to the program, Sell said, she was scared, backward and shy.
Through the support groups, Sell got to know Sweet pretty well. The two women have been through a lot in Sweet's life together. Sell said she has seen Sweet grow spiritually and emotionally. Sweet grew from an unsure scared girl to being more sure of herself.
"I'm pretty proud of her," Sell said.
"No matter what the situation is, the program has something to give everyone," said Sweet. "It's definitely a scary thing, but once you step into (the program), you feel like you can walk with them forever."
Sell said every girl's situation is different, and the program adapts as is necessary. Some girls are in abusive situations, and some are homeless, having been kicked out of their homes by their parents once they got pregnant.
"Those are situations we are here to help them through," said Sell. "... Whatever personal needs they have, we're going to try to meet that to the best of our ability."
For more information about the Warsaw or Tippecanoe Valley child care program, call Sell at 574-267-6486 or visit online at www.heartlinepregnancycenter.org Sell said a lot of contact information is available on the website.
Registration for the program is taking place this week and next. The Valley program starts Aug. 20 and moms need to be registered before then.
Hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Warsaw and Tippecanoe Valley students have to get their schedule approved through their school to make sure they have an open block period for the program.
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