Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

health-parent-volunteers

Full Text:

A Network Devoted To Healthy Families

(with photo)

BY JAN HOWARD

The Healthy Families Network of Greater Danbury is issuing a call for

volunteers for two new programs to support first-time parents, First Steps and

the Nurturing Parenting Program.

The agency is also looking for families to participate in the Nurturing

Parenting Program.

Healthy Families Network is a series of programs that coordinate efforts to

provide education and support to parents in the Greater Danbury area. It links

the Healthy Start, Healthy Families, First Steps/Nurturing and HUSKY Outreach

programs to offer educational, supportive and home visitation services to

parents.

A national initiative, Healthy Families Network began in Connecticut in 1994

as a pilot program in Waterbury and Hartford.

"We were fortunate to get in on the third round of funding," said Sue Giglio,

director of the Healthy Families Network.

Dr Robert Joy of Danbury was instrumental in establishing the program here,

she said. A collaborative effort was formed by Danbury Hospital, Department of

Children and Families, Danbury Children First, Family and Children's Aid,

Danbury Regional Commission on Child Care Rights and Abuse, and the Visiting

Nurse Association (VNA) to bring the program here. The VNA was chosen as the

lead agency to apply for funding.

The Healthy Families Network opened its doors in April of 1998.

"What's unique is that it's a collaborative effort," Ms Giglio said. She said

the network, which has its offices at the VNA at 4 Liberty Street,

subcontracts with the Danbury Regional Commission on Child Care Rights and

Abuse for home visitors.

"They had parent aides and home visitors. It was a natural fit. They

partnered," she said.

"We are creating a continuum of services. Our goal is to be a resource to

families that links them to the most appropriate services for them," Ms Giglio

said. "We're building on but not duplicating services."

An advisory board/steering committee oversees all five service components of

the network. The board went to private foundations for start-up funds,

according to Ms Giglio. The majority of funding came in January of 1998 from

the state Children's Trust Fund. The network also receives some funds from the

United Way.

The Healthy Families Network employs five staff members.

First Steps

Ruth Dumser, coordinator of the First Steps/Nurturing Program, said First

Steps is for first-time families interested in receiving support and

education.

Trained volunteer parent mentors will offer telephone support and child

development education through the child's first birthday, she said.

The program starts with a visit to the family in the hospital. "The volunteer

will talk to the family and get an idea about what their concerns and needs

would be," Ms Dumser said.

The volunteer will support the new family by offering information and

literature, linking families to community services, and providing a listening

ear during the first three to six months after the child's birth, she said.

The volunteer would provide such information as where a new mother might find

a support group or how to handle a specific problem, such as a crying baby, Ms

Dumser said. Because most young families today don't have close relatives

nearby, "they don't have a support system," Ms Dumser said. "We recognize

becoming a parent is a wonderful experience, but it can be stressful."

First Steps volunteer training sessions will be held on June 23, 24, and 30

from 9 am to 1 pm.

Training will consist of three morning sessions from 9 am to noon. Volunteers

will learn the concepts of First Steps and what the needs of new families are

through role playing and program information.

The First Steps volunteers will work with families who need support rather

than more intensive services. "They are not known as high risk families. They

are families who are new families that are interested in education and

information," Ms Dumser said.

"The isolation of being a new mom can be lonely," Ms Giglio said. "The program

will give her another adult to bounce ideas off, such as when to call a

doctor."

Nurturing Parenting

The 23-week-long Nurturing Parenting Program will begin this month and

additional groups will be offered in the future, Ms Dumser said.

The program is offered to first-time parents and children up to two years old.

The program "is very intensive, very exciting," she said.

The program will meet from 5 to 7 pm and include a light dinner. "In that way,

working parents can pick up the kids and attend the group without worrying

about getting dinner," Ms Giglio said.

Volunteer facilitators are needed to work with the children's group while the

parents are meeting, Ms Dumser said. A joint session of parents and children

will be held at the end of each session.

"There will be a lot of opportunity for parents to interact and to discuss

their experiences of nurturing," Ms Dumser said. "It is not a lecture, it is

interactive."

About 50 percent of the program's content is devoted to self-growth. The

remaining 50 percent involves learning nurturing parenting skills.

Music, language, games, infant massage, alternatives to behavior management

and how to find child care will be among the many topics discussed.

"As children grow, they test limits," Ms Dumser said. "We will discuss

techniques that are non-punitive. The program will give parents an arsenal of

techniques of managing children's behavior."

The program is offered to all families. Families that have additional needs

will be linked to other available services.

"We see a wide range of families as to how they are situated to bringing a

child into the world and bringing them up. Some have more challenges than

others," Ms Dumser said.

To participate in the Nurturing program or to volunteer for the First Steps or

Nurturing program, call Ms Dumser at 792-4120.

Healthy Start/HUSKY program

Within the first year of operation, the Healthy Families intensive

home-visitation program has provided 374 area families with information

regarding parenting and community resources and has made 515 home visits to 63

families.

In January of 1998, the Healthy Families program partnered with the Healthy

Start/HUSKY program to ensure that pregnant women and all children in

Connecticut have access to adequate medical coverage.

The Healthy Start program expanded to introduce a home visiting component to

the existing enrollment, case management and consumer advocacy services.

Recently, the Department of Social Services selected Danbury VNA as a grant

recipient of the HUSKY Outreach program.

HUSKY (Healthcare for Uninsured Kids and Youth) is open to children and teens

up to age 19. The insurance plan offers a comprehensive package of health

services, including preventive care, prescriptions, dental and vision care.

The plan may be free or low cost, depending on family size and income.

The Healthy Start-HUSKY program, the city of Danbury, Head Start, Danbury

Children First Initiative and the Wellness on Wheels Mobile health van have

formed a collaborative group to get the word out to parents about the

insurance program.

The staff of Healthy Start at the Danbury VNA can provide assistance with the

enrollment application.

All services are voluntary and free of charge.

For information about the Healthy Families, Healthy Start, HUSKY or First

Steps/Nurturing program, contact Ms Giglio at 792-4120.