Life

Finding a helping hand in a Walmart aisle

Janae Howard and her daughter, Alexi.

By Lauren Stepp, Published: October 18, 2013

Walmart advertises low prices and a wide selection but in 2009 the aisles of the supermarket offered Janae Howard much more — a saving grace.

After becoming pregnant at the age of 16, Howard moved from Sevierville, Tenn., to her hometown of Hendersonville. She often felt alone while juggling senior year coursework, a part-time job and a new baby. Then Howard met Summer Stipe, who works as family education and support coordinator at the Children and Family Resource Center.
"Summer was one of the counselors for the program," Howard said. "I ran into her at Walmart and I had never met her before. I was buying diapers for my daughter Alexi, who was eight months old at the time. She convinced me to go to the center."
Howard enrolled in the Adolescent Parenting Program, receiving both parental guidance and assistance. The program's goal is to encourage self-sufficient teen mothers and healthy children through mentoring, monthly meetings and field trips.
"Everybody needs support when they are going through something, and that's what the center was for me," she said. "They provided people who knew what I was going through. There was always someone to talk to. The counselors would come to my house and teach my daughter how to do things. Also, after I joined the program, I received vouchers and subsidies. They paid for child care. Alexi started going to a daycare after that."
Additionally, the program encourages parents to continue through their high school and secondary education. When Howard graduated from North Henderson High School in 2009 with a 4.25 grade point average, she was recognized for having the highest GPA of any teen parents enrolled in the Adolescent Parenting Program groups in the state.
"I was proud of myself. Having a child and going to high school was hard but I was always driven. I knew I was going to finish school," she said. "I was always a great student and that didn't stop because I had a child. It just made me grow up a lot sooner than I should have had to, but I handled it well. I did my homework after she went to bed at night. I made it work."
Following graduation, Howard pursued an associate degree in early childhood education at Blue Ridge Community College. She is now the lead teacher of the two-year-old classroom at Love and Learning Childcare Center in Fletcher.
"Before I got pregnant, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had juggled between being a marine biologist, being a cook – all these crazy things. After I had Alexi, I realized how much I liked being around kids," said Howard. "After that I realized how much I loved children. I wanted to work with them. She inspired me to be a teacher."
Alexi has become her "biggest motivation."
"I had the drive. I knew I wanted to go to college when I was younger, but I really didn't have a reason to make anything of myself,". Now, Alexi makes me want to be better so that she can see what she can do. I want her to see the obstacles she can overcome. I want to be her role model," she said.
The Children and Family Resource Center continued to provide support.
"After I graduated from the program, the center became more of a resource," she said. "I recommend them to every parent I meet. I also work there part-time as a child care provider for one of their programs. Had I never met Summer, I would have never had the part-time job I have now. I wouldn't have as many connections. Now I know so many people in my field just because I was in that program four years ago. My career opportunities and all of my resources have just been expanded because of that building and the people in that building."
Howard's story is among the success stories the Children and Family Resource Center will share at the 14th annual Harvest Dinner on Nov. 2 at Kenmure Country Club. The event raises money to go toward annual operating costs.
"I am going to be speaking at the event," she said. "I have spoken once before and it was absolutely terrifying. I do not do public speaking, but I know it is for a better cause. The people who will be speaking will prove that the donated money is going to a good cause and that it is being used in the right way."
"None of the money is ever wasted. It is always put toward something good. Whether it is teaching or helping parents, it is always going toward something good. I am expecting to be terrified, but it is going to be for a good cause. And after everything the resource center has done, I will do pretty much anything they need me to do."

Harvest Dinner

Children and Family Resource Center fundraiser
Saturday, Nov. 2
Entertainment:
Casey Brown and Jayna Gerber, singing duet
Helena Johnston, clogger
Shanita Jackson, poetry
Thomas Fleming, Anne Gerhardt, and Alex Salvaggio, cellist trio
Molly Penny, singing
Tickets: $150 per person. Call 698-0674 or visit http://www.childrenandfamily.org