Looking forward to a better tomorrow

Westmoreland Human Opportunities

Laureen Shook

Laureen Shook was a young mother of two girls, Haley and Hannah, when she first enrolled in the Head Start program at Westoreland Human Opportunities, Inc. (WHO) in September 2003. She was living with her father in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and working evenings at the local Wal-Mart. The situation was less than ideal for a young mother and her family.  

Laureen initially learned of WHO's Head Start program when staff members were recruiting door to door. She liked the Child Care Partnership option of the Head Start program, which allowed her to keep her children enrolled in their child care facility and still have access to the other services Head Start offered.  

With the help of Tammy Dietrick, Head Start child care specialist, Laureen began searching for a home of her own. The search was difficult but WHO was able to help Laureen find and move into an apartment. Life continued to be a struggle for Laureen and her children as Laureen juggled evening work, childcare and the pregnancy of her third child.

In February 2004, Laureen gave birth to her son Evan and made some life altering decisions at the same time. While still lying in her hospital bed, Laureen contacted Tammy to help her identify community resources that would help her move forward. They contacted the Women, Infants, and Children program and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare as well as the Private Industry Council, where Laureen enrolled in medical coding classes. She enrolled the children in a day care facility that was near her classes and, when she found it was not a collaborating partner of Head Start, was instrumental in having it become part of the Child Care Partnership program.

For about six months after the birth of Evan, Laureen was a full-time student and a full-time mother. "As a student your work comes home with you," said Laureen. "It was very challenging being a single mom, getting both my homework done and the other mom stuff done." 

In the fall of 2004, Laureen graduated. Shortly thereafter, she obtained part-time employment in medical billing at a local radiology facility. Laureen is still employed there and her position is now full-time.  

In June of this year, Laureen enrolled in WHO's Family Savings Account program and is currently saving for a car. She is also interested in owning a home and looks forward to participating in WHO's Homebuyer Resource Center. Being involved in her local church has given Laureen considerable community support. Laureen says she feels "blessed to have met Tammy Dietrick from WHO. She has been very helpful along the way. She kept me motivated and helped me when I faced challenges along the road." Tammy will always remember Laureen as being "a very devoted mother, who puts her children first - even in trying times. She is a very upright, kind and considerate person."

Westmoreland Human Opportunities serves low-income residents of Westmoreland County with programs designed to combat poverty and move individuals to self-sufficiency.