She was constantly tired, often nauseous and had missed her menstrual cycle for two months. Three pregnancy tests later, Artis resigned herself to telling her parents that they were going to be grandparents. “I told them I might be pregnant, and I told them by writing a letter,” Artis said. “They told me I had to get a pregnancy test, so this was pregnancy test number four, and it came out positive.

“It hurt me so bad seeing my momma cry, because she was like, ‘How are you going to finish school and go to college?’ I told her I’d find a way.”

But Artis knew she needed help, so she enrolled in the Adolescent Parenting Program of the Johnston County Department of Social Services. Social workers Kelly Brewer and Ann Arant helped the pregnant teen land a job a Burger King. Also, they made sure she kept her doctor appointments and attended monthly parenting meetings.

Artis thinks she would have dropped out of high school without the support of her family, friends and the APP. “I would recommend every community in every state have this program,” she said. “By having a caring person over your shoulder ... I was so grateful. I can’t express how grateful and thankful I am.” Artis is one of the many APP success stories, said Earl Marett, director of Social Services. “We do other good things,” he said of his department, “but this is one of the most, if not the most, important things we do here.”

The program provides medical care through Medicaid and nutritious food through the Women, Infants and Children program. Also, the program offers day care and transportation. But to stay in the program, teen moms must remain in school, and they cannot get pregnant a second time.

In the end, Marett thinks the program saves taxpayers money. “If you don’t have these second pregnancies, you know you are preventing a large number of people from living on public assistance for the rest of their lives,” he said.

In Johnston, the program has helped moms as young as 11 years old. Most rear their children without the help the father.

“I think eight in 10 teenage fathers disappear,” said Nathalia Faber, coordinator of Johnston’s APP. Even well-meaning fathers often leave, she said. “A lot of time they will stick around for a couple of months after the baby is born, and once the actual reality of having a child and being held down comes around, they will disappear,” Faber said. “We have some who have done a wonderful job and who are still together, but that’s a rare few.”

As part of the program, teen moms meet weekly at their schools to find support, swap baby clothes and learn how to become parents. Faber sees value in the meetings. “A lot of times, they go into the group very shy and not talkative,” she said. “They get to a point, after they have the baby, they start coming to group meetings and asking questions. They share things. They are much more open about their lives.”

Artis said keeping her grades up was a struggle. “I just had to motivate and encourage myself that I had to do it,” she said. “At least do it for my child.”

That child, DeAndre Pullum, is almost 6 years old now, but Artis kept her word to her parents. She finished high school and is completing her senior year at East Carolina University. Originally, she wanted to be a nurse, but after being a teen mom, Artis plans to become an APP social worker.

“Since I have been through it, I understand,” she said. “I can encourage teen parents. It’s hard, but you see me, I did it. You go through the ups, and downs and there were times I had to go in the closet and scream and cry. But I got through it.”

Being a young mother is not easy. Artis juggles two jobs, one in the morning and one at night, and an internship through East Carolina University. Her family and DeAndre’s father care for him while she works and studies. Some days, Artis does not get home from work until after 11 p.m.

“For teenagers who want to have a baby, I would tell them to wait until you finish high school,” she said. “Go to college, find a stable job, and then make sure you are with the right partner and you are married. And then have one.”