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Home Visiting Highlights - Kansas City Children's Service League
When her home visitor asked what she liked most about the program, she answered that she appreciates the motivating support she receives.
A single mother of two young boys, 7 months & 3 years old, said "Having someone who believes me" was one of the things she liked the best about having a home visitor.
This is just one type of support she receives from Kansas Children’s Service League’s (KCSL) Healthy Families home visitation program. When she first heard of Healthy Families, she was a little confused about what home visitation could provide her and her family. After meeting with KCSL staff, she became excited for the support and appreciated all the resources available through Healthy Families. She likes that the same person comes every week to support her family, which she said helps her feel comfortable discussing important and confidential topics.
“It is nice to have someone to talk to, especially since we don’t get out of the house often,” she said.
Her youngest was born 7 weeks premature in September 2017. Mother and baby spent weeks alone in the hospital stranded hours away from her family. She had recently separated from her husband to keep her family safe as he worked on managing his mental health struggles. In November after a traumatic altercation with her husband, she felt she was at the lowest point in her life emotionally and financially. She spoke to a social worker at her pediatrician’s office who connected her to KCSL. The social worker explained how KCSL’s Healthy Families program could offer child development support for her premature infant and connect her to other resources she needed.
When she brought up concerns about her youngest boy to his pediatrician, he was referred to multiple medical specialists. She was hopeful they would provide answers to his health issues, but instead she left feeling discouraged. She felt these doctors did not fully address her concerns nor believe the observations she described. She said she is glad her home visitor is able to see her children in their natural environment and witness the concerns she has. She continues to advocate for her children’s health and nutrition, and now has a home visitor to help support her.
On top of her parenting duties, she works part-time and attends college working towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Although it can be a struggle to balance the workload, she knows she wants to set a good example for her kids and that getting a degree will create a better life for her family. It is very important to her to finish school, and she is prepared to overcome any barriers that might get in the way. When her home visitor asked what she liked most about the program, she answered that she appreciates the motivating support she receives.
“You [home visitor] point out the positives and tell me specific things I am doing right as a parent,” she said.
She often doubts herself and focuses on what she thinks she is doing wrong. When she hears how she is positively impacting her children at each visit, she gains more confidence in parenting. Though she once worried about being able to parent two young children on her own, her parenting confidence has increased through the support of her Healthy Families home visitor. She realizes now that she is more than capable of caring for her kids. She is very grateful for the encouragement from her home visitor to help her achieve this goal.
This is just one type of support she receives from Kansas Children’s Service League’s (KCSL) Healthy Families home visitation program. When she first heard of Healthy Families, she was a little confused about what home visitation could provide her and her family. After meeting with KCSL staff, she became excited for the support and appreciated all the resources available through Healthy Families. She likes that the same person comes every week to support her family, which she said helps her feel comfortable discussing important and confidential topics.
“It is nice to have someone to talk to, especially since we don’t get out of the house often,” she said.
Her youngest was born 7 weeks premature in September 2017. Mother and baby spent weeks alone in the hospital stranded hours away from her family. She had recently separated from her husband to keep her family safe as he worked on managing his mental health struggles. In November after a traumatic altercation with her husband, she felt she was at the lowest point in her life emotionally and financially. She spoke to a social worker at her pediatrician’s office who connected her to KCSL. The social worker explained how KCSL’s Healthy Families program could offer child development support for her premature infant and connect her to other resources she needed.
When she brought up concerns about her youngest boy to his pediatrician, he was referred to multiple medical specialists. She was hopeful they would provide answers to his health issues, but instead she left feeling discouraged. She felt these doctors did not fully address her concerns nor believe the observations she described. She said she is glad her home visitor is able to see her children in their natural environment and witness the concerns she has. She continues to advocate for her children’s health and nutrition, and now has a home visitor to help support her.
On top of her parenting duties, she works part-time and attends college working towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Although it can be a struggle to balance the workload, she knows she wants to set a good example for her kids and that getting a degree will create a better life for her family. It is very important to her to finish school, and she is prepared to overcome any barriers that might get in the way. When her home visitor asked what she liked most about the program, she answered that she appreciates the motivating support she receives.
“You [home visitor] point out the positives and tell me specific things I am doing right as a parent,” she said.
She often doubts herself and focuses on what she thinks she is doing wrong. When she hears how she is positively impacting her children at each visit, she gains more confidence in parenting. Though she once worried about being able to parent two young children on her own, her parenting confidence has increased through the support of her Healthy Families home visitor. She realizes now that she is more than capable of caring for her kids. She is very grateful for the encouragement from her home visitor to help her achieve this goal.
Stories from Home Visiting Families
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