By Eileen Connelly, OSU

CATHEDRAL DEANERY — It’s just after 11 a.m., and the adorable tots who have just been outside enjoying the late summer sunshine are winding down to enjoy a tasty lunch, served by the loving adults who care for them.

CT/EILEEN CONNELLY OSU

Some of the tots in Visions child care program enjoy a tasty lunch. Pictured from left are Adrian Isham, Amara Wallace, Diontez Foster (standing), Ra’Davia Pankey and Shelby Bell.

"The focus of our parent program is on their needs," Steward said. "We can’t really talk to them about being good parents until they feel good about themselves, so we focus on goal setting and developing their self-esteem. We do expect them to go to school and be responsible parents. We don’t let them slide by because we’re trying to teach them responsibility."

The organization also provides nationally accredited child care in a safe, nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment, geared toward preparing children to succeed in kindergarten. This includes partnering with Cincinnati Public Schools for their early childhood initiative. Visions has the capacity to care for 80 children from age six weeks to five years and currently has 70 little ones in the program. The cheerfully decorated building has classrooms for each age group, an outdoor play area and indoor muscle room with the space to tumble, play basketball or have fun on the slide, along with offices for the staff and a kitchen where the longtime cook, Dolly Creer ("Miss Dolly" to the children), prepares delicious and nutritious meals. Other dedicated staff members also ensure the children receive plenty of tender loving care. "A lot of our staff members come from the neighborhood, and some were young moms themselves, so they really want to give back to the community," Steward said. "We have a really good team."

Their philosophy is that "education is the most effective way to escape poverty," which seems to be working, based on Visions’ success stories. Earlier this year, Steward and Marcia Simmons, executive director, attended the high school graduations of three of the original babies in their program. "It was a wonderful thing to see," Steward recalled. "We were so proud."

Then there’s the case of Shannon, a single mother with two young sons, who spent life living in public housing. "I decided that I did not want my children to grow up the way I did — large family, little money and living in a housing development — so I made the decision to attend college," she said.

Remaining focused on her goal, Shannon enrolled in the Visions program, reassured by the stable and nurturing environment it offered her sons and encouraged and supported in her educational endeavors. She has since graduated from the Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science and now owns her own home.

There are countless other success stories, said Steward, noting that three of their mothers are currently studying at the College of Mount St. Joseph, while others are enrolled at other area colleges and vocational schools. For her, these successes, in addition to "seeing the babies grow up before my eyes," are infinitely rewarding. "I love seeing a young lady transform from a rebellious teen-ager who always has a sullen look on her face and think she knows everything to a confident young woman who has come into her own and leaves here with her child and a big smile. That’s what it’s all about."

Visions is grateful for volunteers willing to help in such areas as reading to the children, planning, sponsoring or chaperoning field trips or mentoring a young mother, along with monetary donations that will enable the organization to continue to offer quality services. "We always need funding to do extra little things for our families, from new books for the children to keeping emergency supplies on hand for the moms," Steward said.

For more information or to make a donation, call her or Robinn Jones-Leonard at 513-651-2229, or visit www.visionscs. org.