From Participant to Program Support: Isabella’s Camino Journey Comes Full Circle

Building trust is at the of heart of Camino’s Pregnant and Parenting Program (PPY)

Isabella*, first connected with Camino in early 2020, when she enrolled in Camino’s Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program. She had first heard about Camino when she was pregnant, but Isabella wasn’t quite sure what to expect. A friend encouraged her to visit, and after a warm meeting with a staff member, she quickly realized that Camino’s PPY Program was much more than she thought—it was a place to learn, connect, and grow.   

That first visit turned into enrolling in the Education Community Partnership Program which gives young parents the opportunity to receive elementary or secondary school credits, working at their own pace while parenting a little one. Childminding enabled Isabella to parent and earn her credits at the same time. The program supports each student’s needs and goals – whether that’s through counselling, therapy, or developing life skills. There is time and space to build trust and relationships and to work toward parenting independently. 

Isabella shared that “family life wasn’t the best,” and a few months later, she and her daughter moved into Camino’s supportive housing in Cambridge while continuing with the school program. While the early months were shaped by pandemic restrictions, she still found comfort in the baby groups, outdoor play, and moments of connection with staff and other young moms. “It really started to feel like a home,” she says. “Somewhere I could be heard, encouraged, and just be myself.”  

After graduating from the school program in 2021, Isabella stayed connected. Her sense of belonging and growth inspired her to give back—and in time, there was an opening. Isabella started in a housekeeping role while working on her Educational Assistant diploma at college. After graduation, timing was on Isabella’s side, and she moved into a new role with Camino as a Direct Care Worker with Camino’s Day Program.  

She helps run workshops and groups, supports young parents, and continues to bring fresh ideas—like a successful March Break program focused on play-based learning and connection. The weeklong program was a big success. “We had over 50 participants that week, including some new to Camino,” she says. “It was so special to see families engaging, learning, and having fun together.”  

Isabella’s original goal was to be a teacher, and while she still might someday, she has found purpose in her role with the Pregnant and Parenting Youth program. “Because of my own experience and my age, I can really connect with participants here. They find comfort and inspiration in my stories. I’m an example of someone like them who has completed high school, gone onto college, and am now in my own place - all while being a young, single parent.”  

Her daughter, now five, is a thriving kindergartener. And as for Isabella, she continues to build her future - personally and professionally - with a goal of continuing her career at Camino and “giving back to the community that gave so much to me.” 

She reflects often on how far she’s come. “I don’t think I’d be the parent or person I am without Camino,” she says. "The prenatal and parenting groups have been instrumental in shaping my parenting style and attachment I have with my daughter. I cannot overstate the significance of this program and its lasting impact.”

“Even now as an employee, I still feel the support. It really is a community—and there’s always a door open.” 

Isabella’s story is just one example of how a safe space, ongoing support, and meaningful opportunities can change the course of a young family’s life — and it’s made possible thanks to the generosity and care of those who believe in Camino’s work. 

*Name changed to respect privacy