Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeI began my public health career right here in our community in the late '70s.
Back in those days, I had the privilege of visiting families with first-borns in their homes. Much has changed since then, but a few things remain the same.
The majority of parents continue to say that the birth of their child is the single most important life-changing event. The hopes and dreams parents have for their new bundle of joy can still move mountains.
To these parents, the world stands still to allow attention to be bestowed on this new life. Every parent intends to be the best parent for their child.
To help these hopes and dreams come true, there is one important lesson I have learned in the last 30 years. It is a fact that the first three years of life are the most critical in the development of a child.
Babies depend totally on their parents and caretakers to provide a safe, nurturing and enriching environment for their growth. The trust and relationship built between adult and child in the early years are paramount to the success of every individual.
Due to budget cuts, the Benton-Franklin Health District is no longer providing home visits for first-borns. However, the residents of Benton and Franklin counties have afforded a new way for parents to obtain information and services to help them with their babies. A regionwide initiative called Our Babies Can't Wait was launched in January 2009.
The overall vision is to have today's newborns be successful in school and life by the time they are 20. When we began the planning process for this initiative, I was excited to be involved, because I knew our community would come together to make great things happen for its residents.
I was not disappointed. Supported by more than 50 partners, the first year of this initiative boasts outstanding results. The entire community can be proud of these accomplishments.
w With the help of more than 100 volunteers, Our Babies Can't Wait educational materials were distributed to 350 locations twice in the past 12 months.
w The Community Solutions website containing Our Babies Can't Wait educational articles received more than 300 visits per month.
w The Our Babies Can't Wait speakers bureau reached more than 1,000 people through 35 community presentations.
Another area of outstanding achievement is the services to individuals that are provided. For example:
w 191 parents received one-on-one nurse screenings. The Benton-Franklin Health District offers nurse screenings and home visits for qualified first-time parents.
w 89 people attended workshops for parents. The Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation and other community partners offer eight-session workshops for parents.
w 82 parents benefited from Family Connection Services. Lutheran Community Services Northwest helps parents to connect to resources that meet their specific needs.
w 52 parents were able to meet with other parents through Community Cafes. Benton Franklin Substance Abuse Coalition and Catholic Family & Child Service offered Community Cafes in which parents were able to talk with other parents about how to raise thriving children.
w 200 What to Do When Your Child is Sick books were given to low-income or at-risk parents to treat their child's minor ailments and injuries in a timely manner.
A key to the success of Our Babies Can't Wait is access to information in diverse ways. This has been addressed by having educational materials in English and Spanish.
Workshops for parents are also offered in English and Spanish and special outreach efforts were made to refugees.
Albert Einstein said, "All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual." We can all play a part in making Our Babies Can't Wait even more successful.
There is still much to be done. We need to continue to create community awareness, promote parent engagement and education opportunities, including web-based resources and telephone information and referral.
We must provide an environment, structures and avenues for lasting positive change. These services are invaluable to parents and our community.
The people of Benton and Franklin counties have stated loudly and clearly that we are not leaving any child behind. We have come together as one to help our neighbors thrive and ultimately, equip our future leaders with the information and skills necessary for a successful future.
We can make all our hopes and dreams for our children come true.
* Sandy Owen is the Preventive Health Services director for Benton-Franklin Health District and the champion for the Our Babies Can't Wait initiative.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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