By Marci Izard

HOLYOKE, Mass. (abc40) Holyoke has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and the highest percentage of children living in poverty in Massachusetts.

There is an alternative education program in the Paper City called "The Care Center" that is working to ease the burden on young mothers and help them build better lives for themselves and their children.

It is a school that offers daycare while young mothers take classes to earn their GEDs. But The Care Center is unique because even before the teen moms earn their high school diplomas, they start earning college credits. There is a strong emphasis on getting the 16 to 22 year old students to pursue higher education - and break the cycle of poverty in Holyoke.

"They are someone's mom, so it's important for that job, that they are as educated and inspired as they can be -to be good parents," says Anne Teschner, Executive Director of The Care Center.

The emphasis on college is working. More than seventy percent of The Care Center's graduates now continue on to college.