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As a 20 year-old single mother, Fulton native Charessa Hill is raising her daughter, Tootie, on Missouri welfare. Unemployed and without motivation to seek work, Charessa sleeps most of the day. Tootie must remain by her side – a difficult task for an active 18 month-old. She entertains herself by watching TV and sometimes lets herself outside to play in the front yard with the neighbors’ children.
Charessa and Tootie live in a public housing project with family friends Mercedes and Bebe. Unable to raise the $50 necessary to obtain an abortion, Tootie is expecting her second child.

"Who’s Got Time for Tootie?"


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As a 20 year-old single mother, Fulton native Charessa Hill is raising her daughter, Tootie, on Missouri welfare. Unemployed and without motivation to seek work, Charessa sleeps most of the day. Tootie must remain by her side – a difficult task for an active 18 month-old. She entertains herself by watching TV and sometimes lets herself outside to play in the front yard with the neighbors’ children. Charessa and Tootie live in a public housing project with family friends Mercedes and Bebe. Unable to raise the $50 necessary to obtain an abortion, Tootie is expecting her second child.