The Glow of Hope

A TEAM MEMBER’S REFLECTION ON HELPING TEEN MOMS GRADUATE 

Adrienne stood in the back of the auditorium, watching as a small group of young mothers, clad in caps and gowns, filed in. Their faces reflected a mixture of pride, disbelief, and quiet joy. As she glanced at each of them, she couldn’t help but recall the conversations they’d had just months earlier — moments in which these young women had doubted they’d ever reach this milestone.

These graduates were part of the School Age Mothers Program (SAMP), a program of the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC). SAMP is hosted at Lafayette School, where mothers attend classes alongside a daycare for their babies and young children, ensuring they can focus on their education without worrying about childcare. In partnership with our ECHO program, Adrienne and her team provide case management and resources to SAMP mothers to help navigate the challenges of parenthood and build a bridge of support with SAMP.

Adrienne was asked by Karen Patterson, the school principal and head of the SAMP program, to speak at the graduation ceremony in May 2024. 

As the ceremony began and Adrienne took her seat, she watched as the mothers walked across the stage, their smiles wide with the glow of accomplishment. These young women had faced countless obstacles — balancing schoolwork, jobs, and the demands of motherhood. But today, they were graduates.

“This is why I love case management,” Adrienne said. “To see them walk across that stage after everything they’ve been through—it’s indescribable. They didn’t think they could do it, but they did. To be a part of that journey and to have Catholic Charities anchored in a program like this, it’s amazing.”

For Adrienne, this work was more than a job — it was personal. She knew firsthand the struggles young mothers faced, the weight of giving up personal dreams for the sake of a child. Adrienne had once forfeited a college scholarship to care for her baby, but with the support of family, friends, church, and programs like SAMP, she had gone on to earn both her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Her journey was a testament to the power of support systems, and she was determined to offer the same hope to these young mothers.

“As a former teen mom, I know the difference it makes when someone believes in you, when you have a support system that helps you succeed,” Adrienne said. “This is what Catholic Charities and the ECHO program are all about — helping people reach their full potential.”

The impact of SAMP extended far beyond graduation. Three of the graduates were already enrolled in college, with one pursuing a pre-med track. For those heading into the workforce, Adrienne and her team provided support with job applications, interview prep, and even professional attire. Catholic Charities had become a critical lifeline, not just helping them graduate, but helping them build futures they hadn’t thought possible.