Last year, I finished a memoir about my eight-year career as a science teacher to teen moms, called Subject to Change. My story emphasizes the human capacity for and willingness to change when unexpected things happen. Sometimes we choose change, too. When I started this Substack newsletter last year, it seemed only natural that IContinue reading “Choose Change: You never know where it’ll take you”
Author Archives: Janice Airhart
Power Behind the Young Parent Collective: Kate Westaby
Kate Westaby was 17 and a senior in high school when she discovered she was going to be a mom. Although it was discouraging, Kate was determined to graduate and provide a secure family for her son, which was difficult enough by itself. Despite the challenges, she successfully navigated the educational system to graduate andContinue reading “Power Behind the Young Parent Collective: Kate Westaby”
Young Parent Collective
This week, I’m featuring the Young Parent Collective in Madison, Wisconsin. Its guiding principle is that “All young parents can achieve educational dreams, career goals, and health and well-being for themselves and their children.” Everything the program does supports this belief. In 2022, Kate Westaby, who was working on her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, obtainedContinue reading “Young Parent Collective”
Empowering Teen Moms: YWCA
The YWCA is a familiar acronym but I really didn’t know what they do until one reader suggested I research the program they operate in Greensboro, North Carolina for teen moms. The organization has existed since the 1850s. Yes, they’re more than a century and a half old. I’m surprised I knew so little aboutContinue reading “Empowering Teen Moms: YWCA”
Power to Decide: Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy was founded in response to a teen pregnancy rate in the US that exceeded that of most developed nations. President Clinton called for a national response in his State of the Union address in 1995, and the National Campaign was formed and funded the following year. Since theContinue reading “Power to Decide: Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy”
Martha’s Foundation: A Sanctuary for Teen Moms
Myrtle Watson, who founded Martha’s Foundation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has spent her career as a nurse educator and a tireless advocate for at-risk teens who become pregnant. Her work with teen moms convinced her that services for pregnant teens should include a residential facility tailored to young moms and their babies. No other agency inContinue reading “Martha’s Foundation: A Sanctuary for Teen Moms”
Parents as Teachers
Photo by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash One of the dilemmas I faced when I taught teen moms was how to best balance facilitating their learning of academic principles and honoring their need to learn how to be mothers. Not surprisingly, girls were often distracted in the classroom by whatever was going on with their babiesContinue reading “Parents as Teachers”
Support for Single Moms: Arms of Hope
Several years ago, a women’s retreat I attended chose to benefit a charity through the donation of essential supplies. The Refuge Ranch in Bastrop, Texas, just southeast of Austin, provided residential care and support for former victims of sex trafficking. Many clients were adolescent girls. As part of our retreat, we packed “goody bags” forContinue reading “Support for Single Moms: Arms of Hope”
Supporting Teen Moms in CA: Fristers
This week continues my commitment to celebrate organizations that support teen moms. While I’m deeply concerned for these young women’s welfare and that of their children, I know there are good people doing good things all over this country. Thank you to all those who have provided suggestions for other programs to highlight. I hopeContinue reading “Supporting Teen Moms in CA: Fristers”
Partnerships Supporting Teen Moms: Nurse-Family Partnership
I’ve been writing the past few months about my serious concerns for the well-being of pregnant teens, teen moms, and their children. They risk poverty, health crises, and other serious challenges. I fear the resources available to them will shrink even more in the upcoming administration. As we begin a new year, I’d like toContinue reading “Partnerships Supporting Teen Moms: Nurse-Family Partnership”
Janice Airhart 