Stories
"YPOP has made a world of difference to my little family"
Read a collection of stories that stories reflect the journeys of young moms who have experienced positive change, growth, and achievement. We are proud to share their experiences and celebrate the milestones they’ve reached along the way.
When Nicky first reached out to YPOP, she was young, pregnant, and alone, with no support from her family or her baby’s father. Determined to give her child a better life than she’d had, she connected with Nicole, YPOP’s outreach worker. Together, they found supportive housing that helped Nicky prepare for parenthood and a stable future.
After her daughter Megan was born, Nicky leaned on YPOP for guidance on parenting challenges—whether managing teething or celebrating Megan’s first steps. Even when Megan’s father returned, only to become abusive, Nicky relied on Nicole’s support to make a safe plan to leave.
Over the next year, YPOP helped Nicky secure stable housing, transportation to essential services, and counseling. When the pandemic hit, isolating young parents like Nicky, Nicole delivered groceries and supplies to her doorstep, ensuring they could weather the crisis safely.
Now, with Megan starting Kindergarten, Nicky is looking forward to building her dream of a small business, ready to face the future with YPOP’s continued support.
Kate knew she was in trouble when Mike threatened her with his fist. The children had been crying and he was frustrated and on edge. His violent behavior had been escalating since Kate’s last pregnancy. The pandemic had been hard on their marriage — the loss of income, fewer community supports and being stuck at home all the time was beyond stressful — and it was almost impossible for her to be alone to reach out for help. Add to that two small children and their home was a powder keg waiting to blow.
Kate was afraid, exhausted, and didn’t know where to get help. A friend reached out to Cridge Transition House for Women, wondering what kind of support they might have for Kate. They quickly set up a phone call for Kate with Nicole, our Young Parent Outreach worker. Nicole was able to assess Kate’s situation and recommend that Kate and her children find alternative housing.
Nicole was able to assess Kate’s situation and recommend that Kate and her children find alternative housing. The challenge was to find a place that would be able to support Kate and her children. Nicole has a long-standing relationship with a local housing provider and they were able to offer a space. Within a month from the initial phone call, Kate was safely housed and beginning to consider how her life could look differently than being in an abusive relationship. Nicole has continued to support Kate, working in partnership with other support workers, to make sure that Kate has access to community resources, has support in parenting and is mentored in her choices regarding school, employment and childcare.
Lisa was a new mom and the father of her baby had violently abused Lisa and (as often happens) the abuse had gotten even worse during Lisa’s pregnancy. Lisa knew she could not live with him when their baby was born.
Lisa had grown up in foster care and the only person she knew to turn to for help was the social worker she had known as a teenager. The social worker got Lisa to contact Nicole at The Cridge Young Parent Outreach Program (YPOP). Nicole and Lisa acted fast. Within a month, Nicole helped Lisa secure housing, gather essential furnishings from Annie’s Closet, and create a safety plan. Nicole also connected Lisa with Legal Aid to pursue a Protection Order and guardianship for her baby. Thanks to donations from Sailor Jack’s, Lisa received baby clothes, and Nicole even showed her how to install a car seat during their trips together in the YPOP van.
Lisa remains connected with Nicole, who continues to support her in building a safe, loving life for her child. The Cridge YPOP is there for young moms like Lisa, helping them through struggles and celebrating their successes.
Eileen found The Cridge Young Parent Outreach Program when she was 19, had one baby, was pregnant with a second, and knew she needed to leave her abusive partner. She had not finished high school, had no job skills and was scared, depressed, and hopeless. Her future looked very bleak. Nicole, our Cridge Young Parent Outreach Worker has faithfully supported Eileen to get out and stay out of the relationship with her partner and to stabilize her health.
With lots of encouragement and support, Eileen has completed an employment program. She stays connected to Nicole as an “anchor” to help her stay focused on creating a safe, stable, happy future for herself and her children.
We are so proud of Eileen’s accomplishments and the work that Nicole does to help young moms and their children thrive.