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Testimonials

To see a former client featured in the Charleston Regional Business Journal, go to

Forty Under 40 2010 winner: Philicia Baugh-Smith

"Thanks again to everyone at Florence Crittenton Programs for inspiring young mothers to have HOPE and DREAM BIG!" - Philicia Baugh-Smith

Sarah came into the Florence Crittenton Residential Program at the age of 14. She had a history of sexual abuse by her mother's boyfriends as well as a string of relationships with older men. She arrived at Florence Crittenton with very limited understanding of pregnancy, childbirth, and basic survival skills, despite her high aptitude and academic skills. She liked to tell the staff, "I'm Honors in English, but not in life". Sarah received significant support from our social work and nursing staff. She did whatever she could to prepare for the birth of her child as far as collecting baby items and gaining knowledge about childbirth and parenting. After delivering a healthy, full-term baby girl in January, Sarah returned home with her daughter to live with her own mother. At this time she began work with our Family Development Program. Sarah received very limited support from her mother and no support from the father of her daughter. She had difficulty returning to her home school due to a lack of affordable childcare. Sarah and her mother had resigned themselves to the fact that she would be a dropout and would attempt to resume her education in the future when she was better able to afford childcare. However, through work with our Family Development staff, she was able to access a daycare voucher and return to school in time to avoid losing credit for the year. The staff of Florence Crittenton also assisted Sarah in navigating the family court system and obtaining a child support order for her daughter. In addition, Sarah has successfully secured employment and continues to seek information concerning parenting and child development. Her daughter is now 15 months old and has consistently exceeded the standards on our developmental assessments. Mother and daughter share an amazing bond, and Sarah is well on her way to achieving her goal of graduating high school, attending college and providing more for her daughter than her mother was able to provide.

Being here not only made me realize what is going on around me but the great person that is inside me. I have learned so much being here, from childbirth classes to music classes to parenting classes. They all made me become more confident in what I am becoming - a mother. I am going to be the best mother that I can be to Nai-Asia. She is the reason why I get up every morning and come to school and learn more things. I have never been so blessed to meet a wonderful group of staff who have done nothing but make me feel welcome. I am glad that this program was available for me to come to. Florence Crittenton is a great place for young teenage mothers to come to. There is not a thank you that would equal out to what you all have done for me and my baby. I am not only stronger in general - I am stronger in mind, body, and soul. I have hope and wisdom to manage a healthy relationship with my child. I have my future planned out for me and my baby. I am going to graduate early so I can go on with my life and college. Thank you!! - Dai-Yah

When I first met Bernice, she was 20 years old. She is a petite young woman with big blue eyes and freckles all over her face. Before Bernice came to Florence Crittenton, she had literally been living under a bridge. She was referred by a homeless shelter with concerns that she did not have a stable place to stay during her pregnancy. During her stay at the Residential Program, there were several complaints made by the other residents about Bernice's personal hygiene. And it was no wonder, once we started to hear bits and pieces of her life story: while they were growing up, Bernice and her siblings had been neglected, sexually abused, and brutally tortured by her father, mother, and mother's subsequent boyfriends. Every time the local department of Social Services caught wind of what was going on in that family and started an investigation, the family would move out of the county-or even the state) to avoid charges. Bernice experiences a cognitive delay to this day due to a closed-head injury that she suffered in her childhood. Bernice lived in this environment with her family until shortly after she gave birth to her stepfather's baby at the age of 17. This was a man who had been sexually abusing her since the age of 14. Jealous of the "relationship," Bernice's mother decided to drive her across state lines and leave her there with no money and no place to stay. So it was no wonder, once we learned of her history, that Bernice had some personal hygiene issues. As a child, she had never been instructed on everyday life skills such as self care and housekeeping. Then, as a young adult, she spent her waking hours trying to seek shelter and food. Once Bernice delivered her little boy, she transitioned into our Family Development Program and secured her first apartment. She required more instruction than we had even anticipated regarding maintaining a home. For a while, she had one messy "dreadlock" on her head for lack of washing and brushing her hair. So we broke it down, and started from square one with helping her learn how to care for herself, her baby, and her home. Bernice is now 22 years old. She is the most gentle and patient parent with her son. Due to her history, she is very particular about whom she will leave him with and still has concerns over taking him to daycare. With her background, she is not the most "conventional" person, but she takes care of her child, her self, and her apartment. She has had a stable job for over one year now. She started classes at Trident Tech this Fall and bought herself a brand-new bicycle to get to class. She is so proud to call herself a college student. When I think about how far she had come, I am amazed!