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Healthy Families Highlands Helps New Moms Start On Right Foot

Building Healthy Families

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Shanice Battles, 17, comforts her newborn son Ja'marion Ford on Thursday at her home in Avon Park. Battles is participating in Healthy Families Highlands, which links her with services through in-home visits.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: May 2, 2008

SEBRING — Shanice Battles was a bit nervous when she first found out she was pregnant, but by the time Ja'marion Ford was born April 20, she was much more prepared, thanks to her regular visits with Healthy Families Highlands.

"The information they gave me was really good for helping me prepare everything for when he came home," said Battles, 17. "I was a little emotional when I came home from the hospital, but I knew that would be normal for a new mom."

Amy Murdock, a family support worker for Healthy Families Highlands, has been meeting regularly with Battles during her pregnancy, helping her prepare for the baby.

"I am in the pattern of feeding him as soon as he wakes up, and I try to sleep when he is sleeping," Battles told Murdock during their visit Thursday morning.

"That's so great; that's exactly what you should be doing," Murdock said.

Healthy Families Highlands was started last fall with money allocated by the state legislature to expand the statewide program, which is open to parents who qualify and are enrolled before the child is 3 months old.

Visits focus on helping families understand child development, encouraging positive parent-child interaction, teaching parenting techniques, linking parents with community service providers and making sure the child is meeting age-appropriate milestones.

"The program is not only educational," Murdock said. "We also address any concerns the mothers may have and help refer them to proper resources."

Sheilani Velez, 19, was excited to learn a program like Healthy Families exists to link her with resources as she waits for her baby Gabriella Nicole, who is due May 29

"Other than my mom going through this when she had me, I don't know anyone else who has done this," Velez said. "Everything is new to me, and I figure any help or education about how to be a good mom will be helpful. I want to make sure I prepare the right way because I can imagine everything can get a little hectic when the baby comes."

During pre-natal visits Velez is learning about staying healthy, receiving proper care and preparing for the baby's arrival. She also takes the opportunity to ask Murdock questions about her concerns.

"I have a great family as a support system, but it's nice to have someone else come check on you and give you the support that new, young moms sometimes don't get," Velez said.

Once the baby arrives, mothers start working through a curriculum that works on developmental skills of the baby and family bonding.

"Enjoying the pregnancy is key for bonding and once the baby comes, the mother will feel a new type of attachment," Murdock said. "We want to help them nurture that bond."

Murdock spreads a mat out on the ground and models activities mothers can do with their babies to encourage their development and strengthen their bond. Velez said that's something she is excited to learn.

"The activities we will learn is definitely something I am looking forward to," Velez said. "I am excited to learn things I can do with my baby to help her develop and help me be a good mom."

For more information, call Healthy Families Highlands at 402-6628.

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