Bright & Beautiful Beginnings 0-5
Prevention Services
A growing body of scientific research on brain growth and development has shown that early intervention in lives of children can prevent child abuse, educational failure and improve significantly outcomes for even children who are disabled. Bright & Beautiful Beginnings is the umbrella for five programs which serve families with very young children: Welcome Baby, Stork's Nest, and Intensive Home Visiting, Beds for Babies, and Dresser Project/showers.
Beds for Babies
Availability of a safe bed and an educational packet to promote SIDs prevention is available to families whose babies would go home without a safe bed from the hospital. This program is a collaborative project with the Charles Hockenberry Foundation.
Do you know what constitutes a safe crib? Sometimes that hand me down from a family member or neighbor is not safe:
Intensive Home Visiting is offered to a limited 24 young families. A Family Support Worker who visits at least weekly will provide parent education, physical and emotional supports. A typical home visit might entail an opportunity for the young mom to talk about her feelings and problems, a curriculum/parenting lesson, and a chance to show off new things the baby is learning. Enrollment is limited. A child may begin prenatally or up to 90 days of age. The 0-5 Coordinator is the initial point of contact for assignment of a home visitor.
Family Support Workers:
Gail Eitzen
Diane Gibson
Stork's Nest "Store"
Women who are pregnant or have newborns less than 90 days old may sign up for participation in the Stork's Nest program. Participants earn points which are spent like money in the store which is located at 215 East Washington in Clarinda or through Mobile Delivery in Page and Fremont counties.
"Necessary" items like diapers, wipes, and detergent are available as well as beds, high chairs, and a limited supply of like new clothing and baby quilts. The store is open Thursdays 12:00-5:00 p.m. The points are earned through participation in educational classes and practices which support the health and wellness of the child. Smoking cessation or at least establishing a smoke free environment is a program goal. Cessation classes and even nicotine replacement have been made available through collaboration with Page County Public Health.
Showers/Dresser Projects
If a family does not have a supportive extended family or neighborhood and has need of clothing and other newborn items that would typically be provided through a baby shower, staff can schedule a newborn shower through one of the area churches who host Dresser Projects.
The church hosts a simple shower with refreshments and contents of a Dresser which is kept stocked through donations of the church. Sometimes new supportive relationships are established. The community embraces the needs of the young family.
A growing body of scientific research on brain growth and development has shown that early intervention in lives of children can prevent child abuse, educational failure and improve significantly outcomes for even children who are disabled. Bright & Beautiful Beginnings is the umbrella for five programs which serve families with very young children: Welcome Baby, Stork's Nest, and Intensive Home Visiting, Beds for Babies, and Dresser Project/showers.
Beds for Babies
Availability of a safe bed and an educational packet to promote SIDs prevention is available to families whose babies would go home without a safe bed from the hospital. This program is a collaborative project with the Charles Hockenberry Foundation.
Do you know what constitutes a safe crib? Sometimes that hand me down from a family member or neighbor is not safe:
- the slats should be no more than 2-3/8" apart
- cornerposts do not extend above end panels which baby can catch clothing
on and strangle - mattress should be snug so baby cannot get trapped
- mattress supports shouldn't easily pull apart from cornerposts
- crib or mattress support should not have missing, loose, broken or improperly
installed screws, brackets or other hardware - there should be no cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning,
no splinters or rough edges - no cutout areas on headboard or footboard so baby's head cannot get trapped.
Intensive Home Visiting is offered to a limited 24 young families. A Family Support Worker who visits at least weekly will provide parent education, physical and emotional supports. A typical home visit might entail an opportunity for the young mom to talk about her feelings and problems, a curriculum/parenting lesson, and a chance to show off new things the baby is learning. Enrollment is limited. A child may begin prenatally or up to 90 days of age. The 0-5 Coordinator is the initial point of contact for assignment of a home visitor.
Family Support Workers:
Gail Eitzen
Diane Gibson
Stork's Nest "Store"Women who are pregnant or have newborns less than 90 days old may sign up for participation in the Stork's Nest program. Participants earn points which are spent like money in the store which is located at 215 East Washington in Clarinda or through Mobile Delivery in Page and Fremont counties.
"Necessary" items like diapers, wipes, and detergent are available as well as beds, high chairs, and a limited supply of like new clothing and baby quilts. The store is open Thursdays 12:00-5:00 p.m. The points are earned through participation in educational classes and practices which support the health and wellness of the child. Smoking cessation or at least establishing a smoke free environment is a program goal. Cessation classes and even nicotine replacement have been made available through collaboration with Page County Public Health.
Showers/Dresser Projects
If a family does not have a supportive extended family or neighborhood and has need of clothing and other newborn items that would typically be provided through a baby shower, staff can schedule a newborn shower through one of the area churches who host Dresser Projects.
The church hosts a simple shower with refreshments and contents of a Dresser which is kept stocked through donations of the church. Sometimes new supportive relationships are established. The community embraces the needs of the young family.