Family support starts at birth with Home Visiting Connection

This program was launched April 1 and is the result of a collaborative effort by many local agencies and a local initiative, Keeping Families Together.

Health departments for both Hood River and Wasco counties, MCCC Head Start/ Early Head Start, OCDC/Migrant Head Start, Next Door, Early Intervention, PacificSource Community Solutions, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Mid-Columbia Medical Center, and Keeping Families Together, which is a prevention program funded through Casey Family Programs.

This initiative will hopefully improve connections and referrals to the many local agencies that support families in Hood River, according to Terri Vann of the Keeping Families First coordinating agency. Vann said Home Visiting Connection will help families from falling through the cracks when it comes to needed services and supports.

This process started with a group of representatives from agencies sitting down and discussing how to best serve all of our parents, families and children in our area. This included agencies from Hood River County as well as Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam.

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital provided a bonus to the team, according to Vann. Jan Brauer, a local Labor and Delivery Nurse, joined the team and provided the needed background in terms of new moms and the connection to local providers in Hood River County.

Wasco County had already been using a similar system, with all prenatal support going through one provider office. But Hood River has six offices delivering babies, as well as NW Pediatrics, who serves children.

A simple survey was developed for parents, and a brochure was created with general information about the Home Visiting Connection and where to call to access services.

The process went live April 1 in three of the local provider offices and has now expanded to three more. These offices are now administering surveys to all consenting expectant mothers at 20 weeks into their pregnancy.

The survey is then sent to the local Health Department, where it is reviewed for any possible need for support from agencies mentioned above, and support with breastfeeding, parenting groups or medical support. The screening can also include family support for children and teens ages 0-21.

As the process broadens, the process will be expanded to any entities that have direct access to children such as the school district. It is essentially a “one stop shopping” for families in Hood River and North Central service areas.

Once the survey is reviewed by the Home Visiting Connection team, support may be offered within two weeks by any applicable agency. Many families may not need any support, but every new mom will receive a Welcome Baby Packet, which includes information, baby books and supplies for new moms.

“Again, the goal is to reach every pregnant woman mid-pregnancy and to begin connecting them to services prior to the birth, as well as serving every child through age 21 who may also qualify for the broad program offerings,” Vann said.

Examples of services available are car seat information and support for obtaining one, welcome baby visits, play groups and parenting support, referrals to local services, home visiting, birth-to-5 educational services, and food support. They can provide support with babies when questions arise about feeding, sleeping, development, and how to tell if your baby is ill.

For families, there is support for preschool and childcare, concerns with your child’s behavior, transportation needs, and food related issues or concerns.

For women in general, the Home Visiting Connection can provide support for women who may not feel safe in their home, are feeling blue after the birth of a child, have breastfeeding concerns, want to get pregnant, or want to connect with other moms.

Ultimately, all referrals go through the Health Department, so if someone needs support, they can contact them directly: Hood River Health Department, 541-386-115,or North Central Public Health District in The Dalles, 541-506-2600.