Human Race: Teen Parent Connection helps families make strong start

Teen Parent Connection provides a range of support for pregnant adolescents and new young parents with the purpose of helping them build strong families while continuing to pursue their own education and life goals.

Programs include prenatal guidance and doula services; support groups for pregnant teens, new parents and young dads; home visits to help parents create a safe, nurturing home for their baby; a parents pantry; and abstinence-based prevention programs offered to schools and other organizations. Based in Glen Ellyn, Teen Parent Connection serves DuPage County adolescents ages 12 to 22.

Teen Parent Connection is among the nearly 60 organizations benefiting this month from Giving DuPage's Human Race. Allison Schuck of Naperville will walk in the Human Race to support her former employer.

Allison Schuck

Teen Parent Connection is an organization in which I firmly believe.

As a former employee, I was honored to work with young parents as they began the difficult journey of teen parenting. This journey was filled with laughter, tears and many hurdles to overcome. Teen Parent Connection gives opportunities to teen parents to become more than a statistic. Additionally, in the many years I have been involved with Teen Parent Connection, I have met so many young people who continue to inspire me by their courage, strength and dedication.

Since leaving Teen Parent Connection's staff, I have been looking for opportunities to continue to support its work. When I heard about the opportunity to be a part of the Human Race on their behalf, I couldn't pass it up.

Not only can I encourage friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to give back to their community, but I have been able to bring this opportunity to some of the families who use the Teen Parent Connection programs and encourage them to be a part of the organization in a new and fulfilling way. How empowering to give a teen mom or teen dad an opportunity to give back to an organization that has been so pivotal to supporting them in their journey!

My goal in being a part of the Human Race is not only to raise money for a worthy organization, but to bring awareness to the incredible work each and every staff member, volunteer and parent involved in TPC programs does on a daily basis to better the lives of young families in DuPage County. I will be walking on race day with my 3-year-old son, Quinn, to show pride and solidarity with the many faces of Teen Parent Connection.