Welcome to Care for Kids’ monthly nonprofit spotlight, where we highlight organizations in Lucas County, Ohio, making a profound difference in the lives of children and families. This month, we are proud to shine a light on Mom’s House, a Toledo-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering young mothers to break cycles of poverty and trauma through education, support, and community.

A Calling, Not a Career

For Christina Rodriguez, Executive Director of Mom’s House, this work goes far beyond a career. Christina’s journey to leading the organization is deeply rooted in her personal experiences. She was a statistic, born to a teenage mother, but her mom worked hard to ensure they had a better life, pulling them out of a challenging lifestyle. Christina’s life is a culmination of her mother’s sacrifices, hard work, and the support they received along the way. For Christina, this is more than just a job—it’s her calling.

This personal history shaped Christina’s desire to give back. “I had a hole in my heart to fill,” she explained. That drive led her to Toledo, Ohio, post-college, where she discovered Mom’s House. For Christina, leading the organization was “never a career—it was a calling.” Her passion lies in ensuring that young women don’t have to experience the same trauma she did, and that they raise children who won’t need to heal from their childhoods. Breaking the cycle of poverty and trauma is a core mission of Mom’s House, and it begins with early intervention at the parent level.

Supporting Young Mothers Through Education

Mom’s House serves young mothers, primarily between the ages of 15 and 25, though they welcome clients both younger and older. The program focuses on providing these young women with the tools they need to create a better future for themselves and their children through education. However, many of the mothers come to Mom’s House with complex personal challenges—often carrying an average of four Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are known to have long-lasting effects on health, well-being, and life outcomes.

Upon entering the program, moms undergo an initial assessment to identify their ACEs and establish a baseline. “Many women have an average of four ACEs,” Christina explained. From this starting point, Mom’s House works to provide holistic healing, ensuring that each mother receives the personalized care and support she needs to move forward. This process of healing and rebuilding is central to Mom’s House’s mission, allowing these women to break the cycles that have affected their families for generations.

While the program offers support, the expectations are high. Christina emphasizes that, “These girls have to want more for themselves. They have to work really hard. We have high expectations.” In addition to being enrolled in school full-time, the young mothers are expected to complete two hours of service within the home and maintain satisfactory grades. Through this structure, Mom’s House not only provides educational and emotional support but also instills a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility.

A Holistic Approach to Care

The heart of Mom’s House lies in its Family Wellness Program, which offers a wide range of services, including parent education, regular check-ins, tutoring, and counseling. This program is designed to support the mothers’ emotional, mental, and physical well-being. “We dig deep into where the trauma started, break it up, and then build a new foundation,” Christina said, explaining how they help young women heal from their pasts while preparing them for a brighter future.

Alongside this, Mom’s House offers on-site childcare through a high-quality Early Childhood Education Center, ensuring the children are nurtured and developed while their mothers focus on their educational and personal goals. The center provides a safe and supportive environment where children learn essential skills such as self-regulation, making friends, and conflict resolution. “We are their safe place, both physically and within their hearts,” Christina noted. For these young mothers, knowing their children are in a secure and loving environment is key to their success.

Breaking Cycles, One Success Story at a Time

Over the years, Mom’s House has had a profound impact on the lives of the mothers and children who pass through its doors. One of the most inspiring success stories Christina shared was about a young mother who came to the organization at 17, with a one-year-old child in tow. Smart, determined, and at times defensive, this young woman was full of potential but needed guidance to channel her energy productively. With the support of Mom’s House, she not only graduated from the University of Toledo while enrolled in the program but also went on to pharmacy school, with a letter of recommendation from Christina herself.

This young mother’s journey didn’t end there. Several years later, Christina reconnected with her and learned that she had graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Pharmaceutical Science and had been chosen to give the commencement speech at her graduation—an incredible full-circle moment for someone who had once been too nervous to speak at public events.

These types of stories are not uncommon at Mom’s House. Many of the mothers and children who graduate from the program do so at the same time, a testament to the deep bond and sense of accomplishment shared by the families and staff alike.

 Growing to Meet the Need

As the demand for Mom’s House’s services continues to grow, the organization is expanding to meet the needs of more young mothers in the community. With over 50 families currently on a waiting list, Mom’s House is in the process of opening a second location, a testament to the vital role it plays in the lives of Toledo’s young mothers.

“We’re growing to accommodate the community’s needs,” Christina said, adding that the waiting list continues to grow as more young mothers seek the unique support that Mom’s House provides. For more information on the growth project, visit www.rattlethestarstoledo.com. The expansion will allow the organization to serve more families and help even more young women break the cycles of poverty and trauma.

 Moving Forward with Purpose

As Mom’s House looks to the future, its mission remains unchanged: to empower young mothers through education, support, and love, ensuring that they and their children have the opportunity to lead stable, fulfilling lives. “We become family,” Christina said, emphasizing the deep connections that form between the staff and the families they serve. Many of the mothers stay in touch long after they leave the program, a testament to the lasting impact Mom’s House has on their lives.

By offering young mothers the tools and support they need to succeed, Mom’s House is breaking cycles, building futures, and changing lives—one family at a time.

Continuing the Conversation on Social Media

Care for Kids wants to hear from you!

• How important do you think breaking cycles of poverty and trauma is for the future success of children and families? What role do you think education plays in this process?
• What are some ways that community members and organizations can better support young mothers in their journey toward stability and success?
• How do you think holistic support, like the programs offered at Mom’s House, helps in addressing not just the immediate needs but also the long-term well-being of both mothers and children?