Laurie Robb

Jada’s story is one of quiet determination and strength. For several years, she has navigated the difficult reality while experiencing homelessness, a path shaped not by poor choices but by the chronic illness of her mother. Her living situation changes frequently week by week.

Unlike students in urban areas, Jada doesn’t have access to critical resources, except for school. School is where she can eat each day, engage with peers and supportive adults like her teachers, guidance counselor, and SHIP case manager.

Like many students experiencing homelessness, absences and tardiness are a concern. Jada faces countless obstacles before walking through the school doors each morning.

Jada experiences one obstacle regularly, which she calls ‘next stop’. On these challenging mornings, Jada wakes up before sunrise to pack her belongings into a duffle bag and then heads to school without confirmation of where she will sleep that night. This is common when her mom is hospitalized out of the county for treatments. She then finds a friend to stay with for a few days until her mom returns.

The spring before her senior year, Jada met with her guidance counselor and chose to enroll in our New Horizons Summer Academy. She was determined to complete an important class needed for graduation ahead of time. She knew the school year would bring many unknowns and many ‘next stops’, but the New Horizons Summer Academy would give her and others the head start needed to ensure high school graduation. That summer, she showed up daily, committed to her future, even when the path ahead was uncertain.

In Fall 2024, Jada started 12th grade filled with anticipation mixed with a bit of worry. Her high school support was nearing the end. Alongside her SHIP case manager and SHIP FAFSA mentor, she applied to several colleges, hoping for more than just a degree. She longed for a sense of stability, a bed of her own, and the chance to immerse herself fully in the college experience, such as group projects, campus events, sports games, and student government. All things she’s missed out on because her priority has always been survival.

Today we have fantastic news: Jada’s “Next Stop” is attending a local college!  

She now has a chance of housing stability with on-campus housing, a meal plan, access to food employment, and critical resources. But even more exciting than her housing stability, we are thrilled, along with Jada, to learn that her financial aid packages have arrived, and thanks to a combination of merit scholarships, FAFSA, and state grants, Jada will be attending college completely debt-free.

She can now look forward to attending class on time every day and to being present for all the moments that make college memorable. Even as she begins this new journey, she’ll remain close enough to rural Frederick County to visit her mom during holidays and breaks, never forgetting where she came from.

Jada’s story reminds us that students facing housing insecurity aren’t defined by their circumstances. They are defined by their resilience, their dreams, and their unwavering belief that things can get better. For Jada, that belief is becoming her reality. With a little help from SHIP and the community cheering her on, Jada’s “next stop” is the pathway to a bright future!

At SHIP of Frederick County, we are committed to using evidence-based practices to support and uplift the students we serve as the build capacity to meet their goals. Two key approaches we implement are Motivational Interviewing and Therapeutic mentoring.

Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered approach that helps students find their own motivation to make positive changes. Instead of giving advice, we listen, ask thoughtful questions, and help young people explore their goals in a non-judgmental, supportive space.

Therapeutic Mentoring builds strong, trusting relationships that offer consistent guidance, encouragement, and emotional support. Through this approach, students gain self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate challenges in school, work, and life.

Why do these methods work? They center the student’s voice empowering them to make choices, set goals, and take ownership of their future. When young people feel heard and supported, they are more likely to stay engaged, persist through challenges, and build a path toward long-term success.

A big thank you to the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission for their support implementing and refining these practices to benefit our students! Their funding has helped our staff to dedicate time to these proven methods.

Last week, we received a call from one of our local Elementary Schools. A 2nd grade student, let’s call her Ana, had been evicted from her home and her family was sleeping on the floor at a different friend’s house each night. Each day Ana was coming to school a little bit later, the school worried that she might stop coming altogether.

After talking to Ana’s mom, the SHIP team jumped into action. We formed a plan to keep Ana in school for the rest of the month by arranging transportation, providing weather appropriate clothing, and delivering hygiene items like soap and shampoo. Ana has been at school on time every day this week.

We also made a plan with the family to keep them safe and cared for during the upcoming break, ensuring that they have the resources they need while schools are closed. Ana’s mom worked with us to apply to several low-income apartments and to follow up with the paperwork she needed but didn’t have. Our Spanish speaking staff helped Ana to understand applications that only existed in English, a language she was struggling to learn. SHIP helped her to move quickly so that her family would only experience homelessness for the shortest time possible.

More than 1,000 Frederick County Public School students experienced homelessness in 2024.

There are so many more students just like Ana’s who need our help to stay connected to education. Those who don’t graduate from high school are more than 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness as adults. If we keep our youth in school, we can break the cycle of homelessness.

In this season of thankfulness, we’re especially grateful for the incredible young people we work with—students like this resilient senior who remind us daily of the strength in hope and possibility.

Our student (let’s call her Julia) came to SHIP at the start of her senior year, after her family circumstances left her alone in the area and staying with a friend to complete high school. At 17 years old, Julia landed a job at a popular local store and planned to work there after high school as her “transition plan” into adulthood. She thought that was her only option. While we know this is a favored place to shop, we could tell after a few short weeks that this student had goals to accomplish. Her world has since opened up in amazing ways. Facing significant challenges, she’s shown incredible determination to shape her future in 2 short months.

This week, Julia met with our FAFSA mentor, completed her needs assessment, and shared a few of her childhood dreams. She had always felt loved and cared for by every nurse she ever met. From the school nurse, to the nurse who x-rayed her wrist when she fell off her bike, to the nurse to cared for her pet–she never met a nurse she didn’t love. This was someone she aspired to be, and she was reminded of this on a Tuesday afternoon, in a tiny conference room of her high school, with a case manager and FAFSA mentor.

By the end of her session, she had applied to Frederick Community College for fall 2025, created an FSA ID and started her personal essay. She then paused before heading back to class and shared her gratitude for having someone take the time to guide her through applications for college and financial aid—things she once thought were out of reach. She was grateful.

This November, we’re thankful not only for her inspiring journey but also for everyone who steps up to support our students as they reach for their dreams. She’s well on her way, and we couldn’t be prouder!