Scott, Mom’s House to aid mothers

Free child care, parenting lessons offered to students

4/19/2013

A partnership between Scott High School and Mom’s House of Toledo will provide child care for student-mothers and parental education during the school year.

Classes will be every other week during lunch at Scott and will be led by staff from Mom’s House, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income, young, single mothers finish their education and become good parents. The lessons will focus on healthy relationships, child development, and financial and safety tips, said Christina Rodriguez, executive director of Mom’s House.

Officials from both organizations announced the initiative Thursday.

The curriculum is the same as is used at the program’s Franklin Avenue location; the benefit of the partnership, Ms. Rodriguez said, is that it’s during school hours. Mothers will get free child care during the school day.

That’s a good way to keep students in school, said Candice Harrison, Scott hub director. Among the myriad difficulties of raising a child while attending school is arranging child care. Mom’s House is five blocks from the school.

Mom’s House focuses on kindergarten readiness, so mothers will work on their children’s education as well as their own.

Scott Principal Treva Jeffries said about a dozen of her students have children or are pregnant. Students who have children are more likely to drop out, she said.

The partnership is the latest initiative of Scott’s community hub strategy, a collaboration between Toledo Public Schools and the United Way of Greater Toledo at four schools.

The hubs partner schools with nonprofit groups that provide services such as medical and dental care, social services, or after-school programs.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com, 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.