JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- While Jacksonville police await autopsy results on the death of a toddler and the child's teenage mother sits behind bars, another young mother spoke out about a program that kept her from traveling a similar path.

Shortly after 17-year-old Shantez Williams' 2-year-old son died, police charged the teen with aggravated child abuse. They said the teen confessed to hitting her child numerous times over a period of five to 10 minutes.

She also admitted, police said, to a repeated pattern of abuse.

A family friend who often cared for the 2-year-old told Channel 4 she had no idea what was going on, and she said that when the alleged abuse was discovered it was too late.

"To know that he was sick and I didn't know, it hurts because I didn't know," said family friend Marcia Holloway. "It took him to show the world and the state that his mom needed help."

Police said what overwhelmed young mothers often do not know is that help is available. Another young mother, 17-year-old Corrine Lepper, can attest to that.

Lepper was pregnant at age 14, and at age 16 she was living with an abusive man. She said she found that man's ways creeping into the way she disciplined her daughter.

"I guess in a way I picked up on his habits, not a lot but a little bit. Like the way could never keep his cool with her," Lepper said. "I'd pop her on her butt, but that's it. That's the way I was brought up, but now they say you don't do that."

She said the state got involved after she reported her ex-husband's abuse and then went back to him.

"(They said) 'You either go into this program for six months or we're going take your daughter from you.' The last thing I ever want was to lose her," Lepper said.

She said after that she left her husband, put her daughter first and enrolled in a six-month program through the Department of Children and Families.

Two months into the program, Lepper said it has already made her a better mother.

"Instead of yelling and screaming at her, I'll put her in the corner and sit and talk with her," Lepper said.

"There's no instruction guide or instruction manual on becoming a parent, and this helps teach the parent alternative ways of disciplining them without hitting them," said John Harrell, of DCF.

Lepper said she was heartbroken Wednesday night when saw the mug shot of a 17-year-old mother with a 2-year-old child just like her, but now her future looks much different than Williams'.

"It's a good thing I got out of that when I did, or else I may have ended up being that girl on TV. I'm not for sure. I'm not going to say I would, but you never know," Lepper said.

She said the DCF program she's in has not only helped her with parenting and discipline techniques but also with education.

Anyone in a similar or difficult parenting situation can call 211 -- a referral service that provides information about helpful programs for parents.