One GED at a Time
High Country Women’s Fund celebrates with young parents

By Sherrie Norris

Dreams, goals, independence – all are becoming reality and wrapped up into one big happy package for several young parents, thanks to the High Country Women’s Fund, the Children’s Council of Watauga County (a partnering agency of High Country United Way), Caldwell Community College and others who are making a life-changing impact through a unique and relatively new educational program that spells success.

Earlier identified as a great need through the Children’s Council (Parents As Teachers program), a class was created last August to provide educational opportunities for young parents who had earlier dropped out of school, mainly due to unplanned pregnancies. Completing their high school education while receiving childcare at the same time once seemed impossible, but thanks to the insight of this agency, monetary assistance from the High Country United Way and its Women’s Fund initiative, as well as staffing from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and space provided by Grace Lutheran Church, the weekly class is being described as a tremendous success.

On Monday, the majority of the program’s 14 enrolled student-parents and their children were honored at a party to celebrate their accomplishments, during which time much gratitude was expressed to those who have made it all possible.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without this,” said a 30-year old mother of three, who dropped out of school at 16 because of “too many distractions. It was just too hard.”

She attended a private school for one year, “but it was not accredited” and offered her little hope for advancement.

“I just gave up until my friend, Robin Triplett with the Children’s Council, introduced me to this class,” she said.

Just three months away from obtaining her GED, she plans to pursue a degree in nursing. Her blue eyes gleaming as she looks around the corner for her children, she concluded, “I have already gotten my CNA license by working my butt off, but I need this GED so I can move forward and take care of my family. It would never have happened otherwise.”

Jennifer Kearse, executive director of the Children’s Council, said that the issue related to teen pregnancies, resulting in high school drop-outs, came to the forefront approximately three years ago through joint discussions with public health and social service officials. “We started seeing more and more of this occurring,” she said, “and even though Watauga has a low teen pregnancy rate, that doesn’t mean we don’t have any.”

Kearse estimated that approximately 30-35 teen pregnancies are reported here every year, “and every year, there are young women and men dropping out of school because they are unable to find adequate childcare while they complete their education.”

Robin Triplett, coordinator of Parents As Teachers, said, “The collaborative program that Caldwell Community College and the Children’s Council provides gives the opportunity for young parents to obtain their GED. Our program is different because we provide transportation and childcare in an effort to support their educational goals.”

Triplett said she has had several students share with her the following comments, “I couldn’t do this without transportation,” “I was worried that I would never get my GED, but now with this program I know I can do it,” “It is nice to be able to bring my baby with me to class,” “I feel more confident about getting a good job after I finish school.”

Nancy Pond, instructor at Caldwell Community College who teaches the GED classes, was present for Monday’s celebration, expressing her delight over the opportunity to help these young parents reach their goals, interacting with the students and their family members like they were her own.

Jenny Miller, executive director of High Country United Way, said, “It has always been the goal of our agency, as well as that of the Women’s Fund, to take care of our own. That is a long-held mountain tradition that stands strong in everything that we attempt to do. We are here today to celebrate the achievements of these young moms and dads who had to give up their high school education because they did not have childcare available to them but, through this new program, have been able to work toward completing their GEDs, which will lead them to further success.

“It is very important to members of the High Country Women’s Fund, who are sponsoring this party today and are helping fund the program, to know the people we serve. We are here for them – to hear their hearts about what they need and to help provide those needs and walk with them on the road to success. They desire to make life better for themselves and their families and we are here beside them to help them along the way.” Huge bags loaded with gifts for the families, compliments of the High Country Women’s Fund, were provided to the students and their children, based upon needs and desires they had earlier expressed.

Mary Jo Grubbs, member of the Women’s Fund who coordinated Monday’s celebration, added, “We want to be able to share the successes of those we serve… to walk beside them through their journey toward success and to follow-through. We have to be there to make sure their needs are met, to offer hugs and encouragement along the way, to serve as mentors when they need someone to lean on. We want to make sure that the simple but necessary things are not overlooked.”

It’s a perfect mix, they all agree. The Children’s Council provides childcare referrals and childcare information for parents, training and resources for childcare providers, and works to increase the supply and quality of childcare, among other things, and, overall, serves as advocates for children of all ages. The council’s Parents As Teachers program provides parents with information on child development and parenting. Parent educators visit families monthly and support their understanding of children’s cognitive skills and general knowledge, social and emotional skills and other readiness domains – providing services year-round, with times and places of service based on the needs of participants.

The High Country United Way is a community-based organization that develops human and financial resources to improve the quality of life in the High Country, assisted now with its highly successful one-year-old initiative, the High Country Women’s Fund. Devoted exclusively to women’s causes in Watauga and Avery counties, in a very short time already, the Women’s Fund has seen tremendous success in the lives of numerous women it has served. The excitement for the original “women helping women” organization continues to build with numerous events and opportunities coming in the New Year, including its annual Power of the Purse fundraiser – instrumental in changing lives of local women every day.

For more information about the GED program, call the Children’s Council at (828) 262-5424 or e-mail ccwci@bellsouth.net

To learn more about High Country United Way or the High Country Women’s Fund, call (828) 265-2122.