Sarah Vetter, Director of Pregnancy, Parenting & Adoption Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation National Kids Count data, Minnesota has approximately 57,000 families living in poverty, earning $25,100 or less for a family of four. More than threefourths of these struggling families are single parent households. These families face challenges in finding affordable housing, childcare, and jobs that pay a living wage.
Catholic Charities is combating this poverty through the Onward and Upward Program, which supports single parents as they pursue a degree in the healthcare field. Along with non-academic scholarships, the Onward and Upward program provides individual mentoring to the women who participate. Each woman learns to identify her learning style, practice good time management, and create and stick to a budget. She sets personal goals, gains access to resources, and leans on her social worker for support while she balances school, work, and raising her children.
The Onward and Upward program had ten single mothers graduate in 2010. Nearly all of these mothers entered the workforce immediately, with new careers as nurses, dental hygienists and dental assistants. These mothers are suddenly earning a living wage and are proud to be supporting their families. One student shares her story:
My name is Kari. I learned about Catholic Charities’ Onward and Upward program when I had just begun the Dental Assisting program at RCTC… I was paired up with someone who helped me set goals for myself, my education, my budget, and offered support in every aspect of my life. Onward and Upward was not just a program to help with my bills. They offered genuine support. Due to the pandemic, I did not get to have face-to-face meetings with my support person (Amber), but she was always a text, phone call or an email away. She kind of became my therapist. She never judged me but was always there for support. If I just needed someone to help me process my thoughts, fears, or anxiety, she knew exactly what to say. Amber cheered me on through my intense Dental Assisting program and always looked forward to hearing how things went, whether it was a big exam, my first day of internship, or a job interview. Amber helped me create a budget, and when I still couldn’t make ends meet Amber helped me find the resources I needed, whether it was Catholic Charities paying for my board exams, an emergency situation in my life, or helping me find other resources in the community that could give me a little boost so that I could continue to be a full-time student while balancing being a full-time mother of a 7-year-old and also pregnant with another baby boy! I was tired physically, mentally and emotionally, but Amber helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I have now graduated with my Associates in Dental Assisting, and have passed all my board exams to become licensed and certified. I have two healthy children and I have reached my goal to have a degree before the age of 30! I accepted a position in January 2021 as a Licensed and Certified Dental Assistant. My employer has already taken me on a fourday business trip to Austin, TX, for an emotional intelligence conference that was very valuable and eye-opening! I cannot wait to see what’s next for me in my career! Thank you, Catholic Charities, for your support, and a special thank you to Amber for being so kind, caring and genuine.
Onward and Upward is changing the trajectory of the lives of single mothers and their children. This is made possible through generous donations of individuals and family foundations. Catholic Charities is honored to use these gifts to transform lives, and we are excited to join more families on their journey.
The Onward and Upward program is accepting applications for students enrolled in Rochester Community and Technical College healthcare programs for Fall 2021. Please visit our website at www.ccsomn. org/onwardandupward for more information and to apply.
