"I am an Advocate who was a former Cradle to Classroom student. My job and my life, I owe to the Cradle to Classroom Program. The curriculum assisted me in discovering my intellectual capacities to stay in school and graduate. The program taught me how to help my child to identify pictures, colors and read. My son is now in Kindergarten, the teacher talks about how he is so prepared for school. He listens, can read some words and enjoys school so much. When I wanted to drop-out of high school my Advocate encouraged me to stay. She talked to me everyday about the importance of a high school diploma. After graduation, I attended the community college. I never saw my self graduating from high school or a community college because I had no support at home. Today, I have a high school diploma and an Associate Degree and work for the program that made it all possible, Cradle to Classroom."

The student mothers of Crane Tech Prep Common school were privileged to be a part of the Cradle to Classroom^® program. The guidance and support they received proved beneficial to mother and child alike. The program provided motivation to young mothers, which encouraged regular school attendance and academic achievement.

Cradle to Classroom^® was a viable part of the Marshall community dating back to 2001. I do know that the program was successful in helping pregnant teens make good choices, keeping up with their prenatal care, and emotional stability.

Although Marshall is currently contracted with Arts of Living for next year, if space limitations allow it, we would welcome the return of the awesome program with Cradle to Classroom.

"Cradle to Classroom is a phenomenal program it supports two generations in helping teen mothers in completing high school and preparing their children for school success."

The Cradle to Classroom^® program gave assistance to pregnant and teen parents to continue their education, otherwise they might have been left behind. One hundred percent of the girls that participated in the Cradle to Classroom program returned to school after becoming pregnant and graduated form high school.

The teens that I worked with enjoyed the Cradle to Classroom^® program. They looked forward to coming by the office and talking to their advocate about everything.

They needed that extra guidance that wasn't always provided at home. The program assisted with helping teens to stay in school and to get their high school diploma. The program helped the teens to keep doctors, WIC appointments, and make sure that the babies were getting all their required shots.

I have teen moms that I worked with that call me today to talk about how beneficial the Cradle to Classroom program was to them. They always ask if the program was coming back to the high schools. They wanted to recommend the program to other pregnant teens that they knew. One of my former students recently graduated from Chicago State University. Her cousin is now pregnant. She called to say her cousin is leaving high school because there is no Cradle to Classroom program to support her.