HOPE Stories: “I Am an Overcomer. You Can Be, Too.”
When Stephanie looks at her life today, she sees a story of rebuilding, determination, and hope. She’s an appeals administrator at Kaiser Permanente. She and her husband recently purchased their first home. Her 11-year-old son Andrew already talks excitedly about going to college.
But a decade ago, Stephanie’s future looked very different.
“I was 19 years old when I discovered I was pregnant,” Stephanie recalls. “I was in a bad place in my life. Healthy Babies Project became my safe haven.”
Finding Support and a Path Forward
A positive pregnancy test led Stephanie to enroll in HBP’s Teen Parent Empowerment Program (TPEP). She joined parenting classes, began mental health treatment, and received support for depression, trauma, and abuse. Shortly after Andrew was born, HBP helped her secure her first apartment.
“It was public housing, but it was mine,” she says.
Breaking Free to Independence
When Stephanie’s family rejected her efforts to become independent, they evicted her and her newborn, throwing their belongings into the street. “We had nothing,” Stephanie says.
HBP stepped in again, providing clothing, furniture, and ongoing support.
Despite the hurt and challenges, Stephanie pressed on. “I made a decision to be different and to break the cycle of abuse,” she says.
With determination and guidance from TPEP and HBP’s case managers, Stephanie:
Earned her associate degree in liberal arts
Secured an entry-level job at Kaiser Permanente
Worked her way into a promotion
Moved into a stable home
Returned to college
Today, she is finishing her bachelor’s degree in business administration and building a strong future for her family.
“Before I got pregnant, I didn’t want to live,” she says. “But my son gave me a reason to fight for his life and for mine.”
Giving Back — and Raising Others
Stephanie not only transformed her own life — she came back to help others do the same.
When she was given the opportunity to support teen parents through HBP, she said yes without hesitation. She now leads Get Out, a TPEP initiative that offers young moms and dads practical strategies to:
Get a job
Get a degree
Get stable housing
Get out of poverty
“So many young parents want to be self-sufficient,” she says, “but they don’t know where to begin.”
Stephanie is living proof that young parents can overcome any obstacle. “I am an overcomer,” she says, “and they can be, too.”
A Note to Our Community
“Stories like Stephanie’s are the reason Healthy Babies Project exists — to walk alongside young parents as they build strong, safe, and hopeful futures.”
If you or a teen you know needs support, contact us to learn more about HBP’s Teen Parent Empowerment Program.