Just 18-months-old, Malena can already count to five, and her speech and motor skills continue to develop rapidly. Her mother, Crystal, is very proud and credits both herself and Early Head Start (EHS) for her daughter’s progress. “Early Head Start is helping Malena learn because the daily activities are age appropriate and the staff really pay attention to her individual needs,” Crystal says.
As a single mother, Crystal, age 17, attends the Tesla Equal Opportunity Program High School in School District 11. CPCD partners with Tesla to provide the EHS program in the Tesla Early Learning Center for 16 children and families.
“It’s great to have the EHS program available at school so teenage parents can stay in school and graduate. Malena is right here in the same building while I’m in class,” Crystal commented. “Affordable child care is really helpful since I don’t have a lot of financial support.”
Crystal enjoys being active within CPCD. “I got involved with Policy Council to become aware of what was going on in the program,” said Crystal, who is the Policy Council classroom representative for Tesla and reports back to her classmates after each meeting. “It is so interesting to see how official meetings are conducted. I think the experience is helping me to prepare for the ‘real world.’”
Crystal continued, “CPCD is a really big information source for me. I’ve taken quite a few parent workshops and trainings. I found the Love and Logic and the nutritional classes to be especially relevant and helpful.”
In addition to working closely with Tesla teachers, the young mothers and fathers also work closely with CPCD Family Advocate Charlotte Nal, who visits the high school frequently to help each family achieve their personal and family goals. “I am always so impressed by the level of parental involvement by the young mothers,” Charlotte said. “They really work hard and are committed to preparing themselves and their children for the future.”
Crystal, who is currently taking a college-level medical preparation class, will graduate from high school this May. She hopes to attend college full-time next year at Pikes Peak Community College or a four-year university. “I really want to become a nurse practitioner someday,” Crystal says.
Crystal is also committed to giving back to her community. Last spring, she volunteered at nearly every CPCD One-Stop-Shop enrollment event to encourage and help families enroll in CPCD’s early childhood education programs. “I enjoy volunteering in the community, especially for CPCD, because so many people have helped me stay in school, either through emotional or financial support,” Crystal said. “Volunteering is my way of saying ‘thank you’ and giving back to others.”