One local program that works with teen moms to help them get on their feet received a check to help these young girls gain independent living skills.
Program Support Specialist at Homespace, Kelly Curry, was excited about the $2,500 check from the Scripps Howard Foundation and WKBW-TV, which will fund a Mommy & Me Bus. It will help young moms gain responsibility and get them to and from programs within Homespace and the community.
"It's important for the mothers to be on a regular schedule," said Curry. "I think it helps with the independent living skills that they're going to need once they leave Homespace - catching the bus or a cab or just being on time. You're transported to daycare and work and school."
This is the first of any funding towards the Mommy & Me program within Homespace, which has eight moms and nine children under the age of three.
Curry says the moms are also excited about the bus to help them with day-to-day responsibilities.
"This bus will be valuable to them when they need to get to doctor's appointments, whether it's for them or for their children, so they're super excited," said Curry. "A lot of the times they can't get to these appointments or they struggle, because they can't catch the bus."