The Begin with Babies (BWB) program is an early intervention program operated by the Ionia ISD. It is specifically designed to help parents develop positive parenting skills and promote healthy parent-child relationships. Two staff from the BWB program have been providing weekly parenting sessions to participants in the alternative education programs with Belding Public Schools and the Douglas R. Welch community Education Center at Ionia Public Schools. Services have focuses on working with pregnant and parenting teens emphasizing child development, age appropriate expectations, literacy, discipline and healthy, substance free environments.

On May 9, 2008 teens from both programs went on a joint year end field trip to the John Ball Park Zoo. It was a wonderful collaboration with between the two school districts and the BWB program. Ionia Public Schools provided the busing while the Belding program and the BWB program provided the staff. All expenses for this trip were paid for by the BWB program.

A total of 23 participants went on the trip; 10 teen moms, 3 dads and 10 children!!! For most of the children, this was their first trip to the zoo. The teen parents were very appreciative of the trip, with the majority of them indicating that they would not be able to take a trip like this on their own. A grant from the Ionia County Child Abuse and Neglect Council (ICAN) provided disposable cameras and scrap booking materials for the teens. Following the trip, the teens gathered back in their respective programs to create their own photo album of the day. There were many positive parent-child interactions and memories made on this day. One teen mom wrote her BWB worker this note: "I think the trip to the zoo was a wonderful experience and my 2 year old absolutely love it! Thank-you so much to all who were involved in making the trip happen!"