'We believe in them'
ECHO is having a resounding effect in our community by providing pregnant and parenting teenagers with the guidance and support they need to stay in school.
From left, Frances with daughter
Jasmine and Jasmine's son Mekhi.
Jasmine was just beginning her freshman year in 2005 when she learned she was pregnant, and it seemed as though she might be headed down the same troubled path taken by so many other teenage mothers: she wouldn't finish high school, and she and her child might fall into a cycle of poverty.
Fortunately for Jasmine and other pregnant and parenting teens, however, there's ECHO (Education Creates Hope and Opportunity), LSSI's teen parenting program. ECHO provides young moms with the support, guidance, and resources they need to finish school while meeting the challenges of parenthood.
And ECHO works. More than 90 percent of ECHO clients graduate from high school, while nationally, only about 32 percent of pregnant teens graduate. In addition, about half of ECHO clients go on to pursue higher eduation.
ECHO was initiated in 1998 as a collaboration joining LSSI and Catholic Charities, when Nancy Flennery of the Step Ahead Council of Allen County asked the two agencies what children's needs were going unmet. Although LSSI and Catholic Charities still collaborate on ECHO, they now have separate funding sources.
Last year alone, LSSI's ECHO program assisted more than 150 clients attending area high schools and middle schools. Referrals to ECHO can come from anyone: school nurses, doctors, friends, family. ECHO is free to clients and offered on a voluntary basis. Clients under 18 need parental consent.
First, a new client is assigned a case manager, who helps the client set educational goals, which may include the need for tutoring. If a client must work to help support herself, her child, or family, that's figured into the plan too. The client's performance in school is then closely monitored. Health-care needs are also addressed, and clients are directed toward any community resources available to them.
"Our primary purpose is to help clients graduate, but we also strive to teach parenting skills and to ensure that these young mothers and their children receive proper medical care," says Gloria Whitcraft, LSSI director of pregnancy, counseling, and adoption services. "But of all the things we do, the most significant is the relationships that develop between clients and their case managers, who provide unconditional support, helping clients overcome obstacles, and praising them when they do well."
The very capable, compassionate ECHO staff includes Gloria; Kristi Bates, supervisor; Shira Temple, senior case manager; and case managers Jasha Cox, Angela Phillips, and Brianna Feeks, who is Jasmine's case manager.
"When Jasmine came to us, education wasn't a priority for her," Brianna says. "And, she continued to struggle for her first two years in ECHO. She had poor attendance and poor grades, and she had problems with her conduct in school."
At the same time, Jasmine's mother, Frances, had lost her job, so Jasmine needed to work to help support the family. With the help of LSSI's Case Management
Initiative program, Frances was able to secure a new job. When Frances recently lost her job again because of the weak economy, she was referred to LSSI's Cup
of Kindness program, which has provided both financial assistance and guidance.
"We'll work with a client's entire family if that's what it takes to keep the client in school," Gloria says.
An ECHO client for more than three years now, Jasmine is set to graduate—on time—from Fort Wayne North Side High School in June. Although she works full time, she's getting good grades, and her attendance is nearly perfect. Jasmine now has her sights set on serving in the Navy. And her son, Mekhi, now 3 years old, is a healthy handful.
"ECHO is really a good program—it's helped get me through a lot," Jasmine says. "I know I wouldn't have learned as much without it. And Brianna was always there to help me, sometimes just being someone to talk to, especially about things I couldn't talk to my mom about."
By helping young moms graduate, ECHO serves the entire community. "It's estimated that teenagers who have children cost taxpayers more than $8.2 billion annually," Gloria says. "If we help them graduate, it lessens the burden on taxpayers.
"Most importantly, of course, ECHO improves the lives of clients and their children," Gloria continues. "If parenting teens don't graduate from high school, they're more likely to have another child before they're married. Most of our clients don't get pregnant again because they stay in school and stay focused on goals.
"Some of our clients need just a tiny bit of support," Gloria says. "But some have already had a bad experience with school, and it's hard for them to get excited about the idea of continuing. But with the help from ECHO, most of them see the value in finishing their education.
"People ask, 'Why does ECHO work?'" Gloria adds. "It works because we believe in them. We never give up on our clients no matter what. If they stick with us, we'll stick with them."
