"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 founded Proud Mamas Crew Team, a support group that introduces lower income young mothers to rowing as a way of fostering personal development, physical activity and lessening the isolation many of them feel. Modeled after the Rowing Strong Rowing Together program out of the Care Center in Holyoke, Mass., it has been a resounding success.

"I love my job because I feel that I am making a positive difference in peoples' lives," Jennifer says. "At Children's you are given the opportunity to grow. When I brought up the Proud Mamas idea, they said, 'Sure! If you can make it happen, go right ahead.' I appreciate their faith in me. They believed in me and we made it happen together."