|
To the many teenage mothers that social worker Jennifer Valenzuela helps on a daily basis in Children's Hospital Boston's Young Parents Program, she is considered much more than a social worker. She is also a friend they can trust.
"I'm just Jennifer when I am with a young mom. There's no title," she says. "It's all about building trust with them, and this takes time. I call them 'my girls' and 'my moms.'"
At Children's since 2001, Jennifer has helped many young mothers and fathers overcome the many challenges they face. She helps them get housing, complete school, attend parenting groups, get routine health care and counseling for themselves and their children, and learn to engage in healthy social activities.
"Some teens face obstacles like poverty, violence and depression, so they also teach me a lot about how to survive and persevere when facing obstacles," she says. "A lot of society is telling them they can't do these things, but I have seen successful teen parents. It is possible, especially with the right support structure, which we try to provide."
|
Jennifer, who is of Mexican descent, is described by her manager as a creative, dynamic and compassionate team player who enjoys taking initiative.
