S heila Patterson's grant proposal was due June 15th. So was her baby.

Even as she met with a grant-writer from the Center for Community Support to put the finishing touches on her proposal, Patterson started having contractions, but she insisted on finalizing the proposal before she checked into the hospital.

Patterson's mettle paid off with a $50,000 grant from the Workforce Center to fund the Leon-Normangee Job Partnership.

The partnership helps youths who have dropped out or are at-risk of dropping out pursue their GED and technical training. In a district with a 33% dropout rate, that is no small task.

"Many of these kids have overcome big barriers in their personal lives," says Patterson. "Now that I have this grant, I have more time to spend one-on-one with them-- checking on them, giving them a pat on the back or a hug."

If it weren't for the Center for Community Support, Patterson says, her program would have ended.

A helping hand for those in the trenches
Leon-Normangee Job Partnership

"I hadn't done a grant like this before," Patterson says. "I needed all the help I could get." Was the program worth the effort of getting the grant? The proof is in the kids if you ask Patterson.

"Two of them took the GED last month, and several others are getting ready for it," she said. If it weren't for this program, I don't think they would have done that. This program is unique in that it lets them know that someone cares about them and their future. It gives them an extra push."

March, 2002
http://ccs.tamu.edu/