Story
Client is sixteen, living with her mother, stepfather, and younger sibling in a small, two-bedroom apartment. Her days begin before sunrise, at a local fast-food restaurant. She's eight months pregnant with her first child. The father, her ex-boyfriend has made it clear early on that he won’t be involved once the baby is born. That decision, while heartbreaking, forced client to face the reality of single motherhood far sooner than she ever imagined. Her family, already struggling to make ends meet, is doing the best they can. Every dollar client earns goes toward saving for the baby's diapers, a secondhand crib, and doctor visits. Still, it never seems like enough. Client recently learned that her job doesn’t offer paid maternity leave. Once the baby arrives, she’ll have to stop working for at least a few weeks, without income. The fear of how she’ll afford baby formula or diapers, and wipes is growing heavier by the day. She’s strong, determined, and doing everything she can to prepare for motherhood while staying in school. But despite her resilience, client is running out of options. She needs support, access to resources, financial aid, and programs that can help her, and her child start on stable ground. All she wants is a chance to give her baby a better life.