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Fort Wayne Community Schools receives grant to support teen parents

Dr. Matthew Sutter presented the check on behalf of Indiana University to the Fort Wayne Community Schools board and their partners on Monday, December 19, 2022.
Ella Abbott
/
WBOI
Dr. Matthew Sutter presented the check on behalf of Indiana University to the Fort Wayne Community Schools board and their partners on Monday, December 19, 2022.

Fort Wayne Community Schools received a grant today from the Indiana University Health Foundation aimed at keeping teenage mothers in school.

The $1 million grant will be used to create a new childcare and early learning center in the district.

FWCS Superintendent Mark Daniel said the district realized a need and this is the first step in helping to address it.

“We believe we have approximately 130 teenage mothers that basically leave and somewhat disappear,” he said.

The facility will support young parents and serve as a training center for students interested in childcare and early childhood development.

The center will provide care for up to 118 children from birth to age 5. FWCS has partnered with Head Start and Early Head Start–both Brightpoint programs, Lutheran Social Services and the Early Childhood Alliance for the project.

Ella Abbott is a multimedia reporter for 89.1 WBOI. She is a strong believer in the ways audio storytelling can engage an audience and create a sensory experience.