Tiana

Tiana arrived at St. Anne’s in the winter of 2002. She was just 16 years old, but had already been a mom to her son Cory for almost two years.

St. Anne’s was Tiana’s third placement “in the system.” Her first stop had been at an emergency shelter program because, as she puts it, “I had no where else to go. I was homeless.”

After the emergency shelter, Tiana spent time at another group home facility, but later asked her social worker if she and Cory could be transferred to St. Anne’s because she had heard good things about the program. Tiana and Cory stayed at St. Anne’s for two years, until Tiana emancipated this past July.

Tiana and Cory are now living at the YMCA, enrolled in the A Brighter Future Transitional Housing Program. They live in a “bachelor”, one-bedroom apartment and Tiana says things are going well.

This former St. Anne's resident is now enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant Program, which she will finish in July. She sees this as the first step towards her long-term goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. “When I finish the Nursing Assistant Program, I plan on getting a job to have my own place. Then back to school, to go even higher.”

Cory is in school too – at a preschool near their apartment. Balancing motherhood and school is a lot of work, but Tiana is determined to be successful by staying focused.

“I was determined from day one, but St. Anne’s helped me even more to get ready for the real world, to be more responsible, be more positive and more independent.” Tiana fondly recalls St. Anne’s parenting classes and time in the Early Learning Center. She also credits her therapist, Heather Bryant, and case manager, Cathie Capp, for helping her stay on track. She says all of the staff at St. Anne’s played an important part in her success.

Tiana is a St. Anne’s success story. After facing difficult circumstances, she came to St. Anne’s, worked hard to earn her high school diploma, and is now continuing her education so that she can better provide for herself and her son. From where she is now, she offers these words of advice to the young women still at St. Anne’s, “ Stay focused, be positive, finish high school. Just believe in yourself.