MANKATO, Minn. -
Autotronics Owner Terry Tacheny hoists up a car not to fixit, but to use it as a teaching tool for a group of teenage girls.
Like many teenage girls, the group doesn't know much abouttaking care of a car, but unlike many teenage girls, they do know about takingcare of a child.
Family Mentor Peach Ritter says, "Their lives haven'talways been as easy as other girls."
The 18 young parents from Blue Earth County involved with theSouth Central Teen Parent project range from age 15-19.
Ritter says, "We just try to work out everything so theycan do it by themselves and be good parents, and be good in thecommunity."
The project started back in March with the help of a stategrant and its intent is to pilot a single point of contact model. What thatmeans is instead of the young parents turning to multiple social workers andcounty employees for the help they need, they are in touch with oneperson. In Blue Earth County, that person is Peach Ritter.
Ritter says, "They're going to have to work many thingsout on their own, and this is just one more step in their future."
The project also sets up workshops like this, where theparents can learn skills to help them become more self-sufficient.
BEC Coordinator Marcia Highum says, "When you shouldchange your oil, how to check your oil, how to jump a vehicle if they are outby themselves with their babies."
Nineteen year-old mom Katie say, "We are carrying ourkids around so we should probably know when something is going to bewrong."
Ritter says, "I think it is making a bigdifference."
Plus it has showed the young parents that while the road totheir future may not be easy, they can do it, and they aren't alone.
Nineteen year-old mom Mindy say, "There not like they'redigging your path they are just helping you walk along the way."
In just 8 months, the project has helped youngparents graduate from high school or get their GED, find jobs, and raisehealthy children. The Teen Parent Project is taking place in 9 countiesthroughout the region, and because of its success, will at least go through2013.
