When Bonita* first enrolled in SGA’s parenting program, she had no idea it would uncover her passion and transform her family’s future. “At the moment I wasn’t working, so I thought, why not give it a chance,” she recalls.
SGA Youth & Family Services’ parenting programs support parents with on-the-job training, education coaching, and job placement services. For Bonita, the journey began when her son’s daycare referred her to the program—just as she learned she was five months pregnant with her second child.
Growing up, Bonita was unsure of her path. She cared deeply for her niece while in high school but missed too many days and fell short of graduating. She tried hair school, then worked retail and gas station jobs, but long hours and commutes left her exhausted and unsatisfied. “I wanted more time with my son, and I wanted something better for us,” she says.
That’s when SGA stepped in. Soon after enrolling, Bonita began working at her son’s daycare. At first, she saw it as just a paycheck but quickly realized it was something more. “I had never thought about working with kids, even though I’ve always been good with them. I grew to love childcare—instantly! It’s my passion.”
With encouragement from her mentor, Mariya, and support from her mom, Bonita earned her high school diploma and went on to obtain her Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. “It was tough—I started the CDA class two weeks before giving birth, while working full time. But Mariya pushed me, and I passed.”
Now, Bonita is planning for the future: earning her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education, and one day opening her own daycare. In the meantime, she’s thriving—working full time, attending SGA’s parenting classes, and motivating other young moms in her cohort.
The program has given her confidence, community, and a clear sense of direction. “I’m more outgoing. I want to own my own house, and I want my kids to see my hard work—so they grow up, go to school, and finish everything they start.”
For Bonita, SGA was life changing. “I think this program is really important for people who are lost. Because I was lost. But now I have a career, I know what I want, and I just have to keep pushing myself.”
*Name changed to protect privacy