Our teen families desire success, and seek an environment where they have the opportunity to help themselves.  At Parent Pathways, we provide this positive learning environment and become partners in their success.

“They (staff at Florence Crittenton School) helped me realize that I can graduate!”

Parent Pathways offers a continuum of services to help teen parents obtain a high school diploma or GED and acquire the skills to successfully transition into parenthood and young adulthood. For most of our young families, the Florence Crittenton School is the primary point of entry.  The School provides a middle school and high school education for pregnant and parenting teens.  Parent Pathways and DPS both provide significant resources to operate the Florence Crittenton School.  All students take academic and elective courses to earn credit toward obtaining a DPS diploma as well as learning to raise healthy families. Also, teen mothers attending the School have access to an on-site, licensed Early Learning Center. 

Having access to the Learning Center is the reason Olivia Banuelos registered at the Florence Crittenton School a year ago.

“I didn’t really care about school – if I didn’t understand something I just wouldn’t do the work,” Olivia explained. “My son motivated me to not only go back to school but also to ask ‘what’ or ‘how’ when I didn’t understand something.”
The Early Learning Center made it possible for Olivia to go back to school. Like most of our teen mothers, she does not have anyone who can watch her child or the resources to pay for childcare. Proper childcare was not the only obstacle Olivia faced. She was behind in all of her classes and English is her second language. She said, “I struggled with reading and writing essays and found math difficult.” 

Before becoming pregnant Olivia was ditching school everyday and hanging around friends who negatively influenced her decisions. She was surrounded by others who were telling her she would never amount to anything and those comments became more persistent once she gave birth to Josue.

Olivia’s instinct was to fight. “I used to fight a lot. But when I was told I could graduate I started to realize that it was only going to happen if I changed.”  
She finally had the support and guidance she needed.  The staff and teachers helped her excel in her classes and empowered her to make positive decisions for herself and the future of her family.  

As for Olivia’s future, “My mom and sister are so proud of me – I am going to be the first in my family to graduate from high school and I am going to go to college. I have plans for Josue too,  know he is getting a head-start here and he is only three. I want him to go to college, have a career and a good future too.”

 “Now, when someone tells me I can’t do it, it makes me try!,” she continued. “Just try. Be a better you everyday.”

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