PROGRAM HELPS PUT LIVES IN ORDER

At age 26, Julie Bowman is a single mother of five children and a high school drop-out. But she's determined to make some changes in her life.

Bowman, of Cape Girardeau, is working on her GED at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School and hopes some day for a career in counseling or perhaps working with computers.

It's not easy juggling a family and school, Bowman admits. But she and other single parents in similar situations are getting some help through a program designed to prepare single parents to better juggle home life and eventually a job.

"I got married when I was 16 years old. I just got off track," Bowman said. "Now I'm trying to get myself on track. All I've ever done is take care of kids. There is a lot out there I want to do."

The single parents program is offered through the East Missouri Action Agency in coordination with the Adult Basic Education program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational School.

Angie Northern, single parent coordinator with East Missouri Action Agency, said the agency wrote for a grant to help single parents find employment.

"Single parents find a lot of roadblocks," Northern said.

The single parents program offers a series of lifestyle workshops, like parenting skills, time management, nutrition and self esteem.

Northern said: "By the time they get their GEDs, hopefully they will be better able to take care of themselves and their families so when they are employed, they are better able to handle both the job and their families."

Bowman said thinking about making a change is scary.

"I wonder if I'm doing it right. But we talk about parenting and I get ideas from the other people," she said. "And they teach us all kinds of helpful things."

On Tuesday, the parents learned how to make inexpensive toys from household items like shoe boxes and salt containers. Susan Bartlett, coordinator of the Cape Girardeau Parents as Teachers program, also explained how the different toys would help children when they were older and beginning to read and write.

"I really wish I would have known about those toys a long time ago," Bowman said. "My little ones would rather play with something like this, and I've spent a lot of money on toys." Bowman's five children range in age from 2-10 years.

The vocational school provides space for the workshops to be held. Northern said, "A lot of people involved in our program are working on their GEDs or go on for vocational training.

"It's convenient for these young women to attend classes here. They don't have to make a special trip somewhere else."

Terri Hirsch, literacy coordinator with the Adult Basic Education class, said the vocational school is interested in seeing these young women become successful in their chosen vocation.

In addition, she said, "These parents are role models for their children. The children will pick up on what their parents like to do.

"If (parents) feel more comfortable and confident with their own skills, that will rub off on their kids."

Bowman has been working toward her GED for about three months and credits the single parent program with her perseverance. She has tried coming back to school before, but has always quit.

"This is the longest I've stayed," she said. "This program makes me want to come to school even more. I have a goal now that I am working for. And I come early to get my work done so I'll have plenty of time for the workshops."