For many young women, attending college represents years of hard work, ambition, and long-term opportunity. But for those facing an unplanned pregnancy, that path can suddenly feel uncertain—or even out of reach. Baby Steps is working to change that narrative, providing Student Moms the resources they need to stay in school, raise their child, and graduate with confidence.

Founded in 2017 at Auburn University, Baby Steps was born from two deeply personal experiences—one shaped by loss, the other by perseverance. Together, its founders recognized a critical gap in support for college-aged women navigating pregnancy and motherhood. Their solution was simple but powerful: create a comprehensive support system that allows Student Moms to continue their education while caring for their child by providing housing, community, and support.

Today, the organization provides far more than encouragement. At its core are residential houses located near campus, where Student Moms receive housing, childcare support, and essential resources such as food, diapers, clothing, and other baby supplies. Beyond basic needs, Baby Steps offers tutoring, professional counseling, resources for educational grants and scholarships, and career-focused programming—all designed to ensure participants not only remain enrolled, but graduate.

Now, that mission is gaining traction locally, thanks to Hinsdale resident Jennifer Lynch, who is leading efforts to bring Baby Steps to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After discovering the organization online, Lynch was immediately struck by the stories of Student Moms balancing coursework with parenting—often with remarkable resilience.

“What you don’t see on most college campuses are these women,” she explains. “But they’re there—and too often, they don’t have the support they need to finish what they started.”

The data underscores the urgency. Nationally, 61% of college-aged women experiencing unplanned pregnancies drop out of college, resulting in substantial long-term financial and professional setbacks. Baby Steps aims to reverse that trend by addressing the practical barriers—housing, community, and support—that often force students to leave school.

Lynch has since built a dedicated volunteer “planter team” of local women—professionals, mothers, and community leaders—who are working to establish a Baby Steps Hub near campus: Mary Pat Howard, Carolyn Excell, Heather McCann, and Lynch’s daughter Shannon, a recent UIUC graduate. Together, they are currently in the organization’s “crawler” phase: raising the initial $600,000 needed to launch operations in Champaign-Urbana.

While the fundraising goal is ambitious, the grassroots support has been equally powerful. From local presentations to outreach among alumni networks and community groups, the initiative is gaining momentum across the western suburbs and beyond. Volunteers contribute time in flexible ways, from organizing events to simply spreading awareness.

For Lynch, the mission is deeply personal. “We want to change the way people think,” she says. “Not ‘that’s the girl who got pregnant in college,’ but ‘that’s the woman who became a mother—and still earned her degree.’”

Shannon Lynch is equally committed. “When I first got involved with Baby Steps, I started hearing these girls' stories differently. They became real—about people’s actual struggles, sacrifices, and hopes. Student Moms deserve to be heard, supported, and seen,” she says. 

With successful Hubs already operating at multiple universities like The University of Alabama and Auburn University—and more in development—Baby Steps is proving that with the right support, Student Moms can thrive both academically and personally.

To learn more or support the Illinois initiative, visit BabySteps.org.