Local School Library Receives Grant to Offer Class for Teen Parents

RIVERSIDE >> The Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Association (RCDDAA) recently selected and awarded Moreno Valley High School (MVHS) Library a Community Grant, giving the Library $500 to purchase childhood development books and offer a class in the fall focused on teen parenting. MVHS Library was one of more than 130 grantee applications this year, which is more than normal, according to Teresa Mares, librarian. Mares said that Vanessa Romero, deputy district attorney, had already been mentoring MVHS students through her assignment with the Youth Accountability Team and therefore already knew about the school. Romero presented the check to school representatives in early May. The money will be used for the 2016 funding year partly to provide more resources for students who are also teen parents, or need more information on child development. “They come to the library looking for resources and we don’t necessarily have all those resources,” Mares said. Additionally, the grant will be used to provide an independent study on teen parenting, taught by MVHS independent study teacher Jessica Cherry. “Why not give them a class where they can get credit and learn how to raise their child?” Mares said. Many times, students involved with independent study have part-time jobs or are teen parents. They might have a hard time finding childcare, Mares said, which gives this class an opportunity to not help the students out, but also teach them how to be better parents. “It goes beyond saying that it’s super important for all of us to take a deep breath as a parent and try to do our best,” Mares said. “How do we learn? We don’t necessarily learn from our parents or relatives or observation. Often we’re self-taught.” Anyone in the Riverside community can apply for the grant if it helps school-aged children through charitable giving, such as through blood drives or mentoring programs. MVHS was one of the educational grantees who received funds, which means this grant in particular is earmarked for a class like the one it will be offering in the fall. Mares said it will have a “domino effect” on students. “If we can teach ourselves with the guidance from teachers and administrators through this course, then more power to the student because then they’ll be a better parent and it will have a domino effect,” she said.