Moms In School

What is Moms In School’s mission?   Our goal is to help the youth of our local area.  Moms In School is a state-licensed and subsidized child care center for teen parents.  We offer an enriched childcare environment for children of students at any area high school.  We believe that an investment in the education of the parents is an investment in the future well-being of the child.  Education and the desire to learn trickle down to the entire family.  We want to provide a caring and nurturing environment for babies and toddlers, ages 6 weeks to 3 years.

What are the details of the center?  We are located in the First United Methodist and First Congregational Church at 643 E. Washington Street in West Chicago, IL. The center is open 7:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on school days.  For more information about the center, please review our Fact Sheet.  A Board of Directors oversees the center staff and operations.

What is the center history and success to date?  Established in 1992, the effort was led by DuPage County Special Education Nurse at West Chicago Community High School Arlynn Grimm working with several churches in the area. From 1992 through 2010, over 160 parents have utilized the center at least for some of their high school time. about 100 mothers graduated high school and about 40 went on to college.  Since 2000 we have about a 75% graduation rate for parents.  Our best benchmarking indicates about 40% of teen parents typically graduate.

What do the teen parents think of the center? Lisette (2009 High School Graduate): Thank you so much for supporting us teen moms. We don't know what we would do without you. Thanks for being kind and patient with my daughter and the other children. I can't thank you enough for keeping my little pumpkin safe. Thank you, Tammy, for being such a kind and giving person and thank you for helping me give my daughter a good future!

Gaby (2007 High School Graduate):  This is a very special thank you to all the staff members that make up MIS Daycare. I am very grateful that I was able to accomplish my high school education after having my son in 2005. If it weren't for this day care I honestly have to say there would be no way that I would have graduated with my class. I appreciate all the help I got from you guys, it really means a lot to me. Thank God there really is a place out there that is meant to help us out and really to help take us a step further in life. I think you guys are not thanked enough or even appreciated as much as you should be. I thank you from the bottom of my heart ladies. Not to mention my son grew attached to all of you. I really enjoyed having him watched by this day care and not only that but I felt the sense of my son being safe because he was always in good hands with all of you. Thank you very much for everything Moms In School Daycare.

How can you help?  Being a not-for-profit organization, we are always looking for donations and volunteers.  Anyone who would enjoy rocking a baby or playing with a toddler is welcome.  We could especially use helpers around lunch time. If you are interested in becoming more involved you can also become a member of the Board of Directors.  Board meetings are the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the center.  Based on our experience, you will find that donating your time or your money can be very rewarding.

Since fundraising is critical to the center, we ask you to consider attending the following activities:

• Bake Sale in summer associated with First United Methodist and First Congregational Church rummage sale
• Breakfast with Santa on the second Saturday in December

Who has helped the center?  First, we want to offer our genuine thanks to the many, many, many individual community members and families who have helped us with their time and money year after year.

Next, we want to thank all the churches who have aided our mission:

• Church of Christ, West Chicago (www.wcfamily.org)

• First United Methodist & Congregational Church, West Chicago

• Gary United Methodist Church, Wheaton (www.garychurch.org)

• Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, Glen Ellyn (www.gecovenant.org)

• St. Andrew Lutheran, West Chicago (www.standrewlutheran.net)

• St. Mary's Catholic Church, West Chicago (www.stmarywc.org)

• St. Michael's United Church of Christ, West Chicago (www.stmichaelsucc.org)

• St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wheaton (www.stpaulwheaton.org)

• St. Walter's Church, Roselle (www.stwalterchurch.com)

Finally, we want to thank the organizations and corporations who have provided critical product and monetary gifts.  Here is a listing of contributors and their web sites.  We encourage you to support those who have helped our center.

We can’t say thank you enough to all those who have helped and continue to support our center.  We could not run the center and help these children without all your help!

For questions about the center, interest in volunteering or donations, please contact the center director, Tammy Bloom, at 630.231.0231 or at momsinschoolwc@yahoo.com. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 258, West Chicago, IL 60186-0258.