E

arning a college degree can be the

biggest game-changer for single
mothers struggling to build a life
for themselves and their children.
But obstacles like finances, transportation
and child care often get in the way.
It helps to have the support and in-
formation offered by the Single Mothers
Academic Resource Team, women in-
volved in the program say.
Ashley Atkinson, 20, is taking a full
load of classes at Oklahoma City Com-
munity College this semester, working as
a nursing assistant overnight at a nursing
home and taking care of her 2-year-old
son, Ayden.
Shes also involved with the SMART
program.
When I first started college, I was
really skeptical, Atkinson said. I was
kinda like, How am I going to do this?
But being in this program has helped me a
lot.
Atkinson said she and other moms in
the program compare study habits and
tips for balancing home life, work and
school.
But the most important thing is the
support she receives from Keisha Wil-
liams, the program coordinator.
I visit with them one-on-one and as a
group, Williams said. I hold a monthly
meeting, which provides encouragement,
emotional and academic support, life
skills and information on community
resources.
I am not a counselor, she said. More
like a big sister and cheerleader.
Impact on children
Williams is employed by OCCC, which
houses the SMART program at its Family
and Community Education Center, 6500
S Land Ave. The center offers young
mothers other resources, too, including
child care services and access to the fed-
eral Women, Infants and Children nutri-
tion program.
Williams position is funded by a grant
from the Womens Foundation of Okla-
homa, which supports organizations fo-
cused on economic self-sufficiency for
women. Her duties recently were expand-
ed to help develop SMART programs
throughout the state.
Its painful to watch these young la-
dies who have a child or two and have
little hope of getting ahead. College can
make a huge difference, said Gloria Bar-
ton, a foundation advisory board member
and former dean of admissions at OCCC.
Some of these single moms have so
little. Their families are struggling to get
by, Barton said. The children of these
STAFF WRITER
K.S.
McNutt
kmcnutt@
opubco.com
OKLAHOMA SINGLE MOMS
START ON SMART JOURNEY
PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
I feel like I owe it to him. I
dont want to raise him and
struggle. And when he gets
older, I would like for him to go
to college also. I dont want
him to look at me and say
Mom, you didnt go to college,
so why make me go?
ASHLEY ATKINSON
THE OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT AND SINGLE MOTHER, ABOVE,
PARTICIPATES IN THE SINGLE MOTHERS
ACADEMIC RESOURCE TEAM PROGRAM.
SEE SMART, PAGE 20A
Support for
student moms
I What: Single Moms Re-
source and Information Fair
I When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sept. 23
I Where: Oklahoma City
Community College, 7777 S
May Ave.
I Sponsor: Single Mothers
Academic Resource Team
I Information: Keisha Wil-
liams, statewide coordinator,
682-1611, ext. 7117, keisha.l.
williams@occc.edu
A
METRO
|
STATE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
19
MIDWEST CITY Debbie Keele
was modest when asked why she
was selected for a renewed posi-
tion with the state Department
of Human Services.
But Keeles supervisor quickly
chimed in, saying she is a hard
worker, plain and simple.
The Midwest City Police De-
partment and DHS have renewed
an agreement to embed a DHS
case worker at the police office to
assist with child abuse and ne-
glect cases.
The concept was to be able to
collaborate better and more effi-
ciently, Keele said. The benefit
(of) being embedded in the (de-
partment) is that they have one
person to go to. Im on call 24
hours a day with them.
In the past, police would get
whoever was on call at DHS if
they needed a case worker. With
this program, information is
more streamlined.
It gives us immediate access
to their expertise, their resources
and their knowledge, said Maj.
Robert Cornelison, the support
services commander for Mid-
west City police. And, of
course, its a two-way street. It
gives them access to us. There
was nothing wrong with the
Midwest City police, DHS link goals, workers
Agency
employee joins
department on
abuse cases
BY KYLE SCHWAB
Staff Writer
kschwab@opubco.com
SEE DHS, PAGE 20A
IN THE REGION
Ben Carson signs books
At left: Judy Austin brings her 15-month-old
granddaughter, Grace Austin, to meet opinion columnist
and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson Saturday
during a book signing in Colorado Springs, Colo. At
right: Frank Jackson left, greets Carson.
PHOTO BY MARK REIS, THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE