Page 11 - Head Start Annual Report 2021-2022
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When Tracy was leaving the hospital So, rather than overwhelming Tracy with Dr. James Greer, a psychiatrist
with her newborn, a call went out with multiple visitors, the care team who works with Children’s Friend to
to our First Connections program. took a measured approach. Lori support families and consult with
“Get in touch with this mom as followed up with Tracy to discuss staff. He provided Tracy and her
soon as possible. She should be the support that First Connections mother with immediate support and
seen by a nurse immediately.” First Nurse, Laura, might provide, such offered long-term options for man-
Connections, a short-term nurse as developmental assessments and aging her concerns about school and
home-visiting program that links education. Thoughtful teamwork paid
new parents to services and provides off. Tracy agreed to a visit. After a mental health.
health education and developmental warm introduction, Laura met Tracy. Following that intervention, First
screenings, gets called like this when Connections was ready to end
a family in need of additional support their work while Lori continued
takes their newborn home for the to support Tracy and Sam. Tracy
first time. Tracy had given birth to recently returned to school and the
Sam, a healthy baby boy. But as a TRACY AND HER TEAM team helped her advocate to get
young teenager not yet in high school
herself, it was essential to make sure CAME UP WITH A PLAN. the support she needs, including
she had every necessary support. the privacy to pump breastmilk for
Sam. Tracy was accepted into two
Our teams sprang into action. application-only high schools for
Brianne, our First Connections During their visit, Tracy shared
Coordinator, contacted Tracy. Keiry, concerns about returning to school next year. Together, Tracy, Tracy’s
on our Centralized Intake team, and her mental health. Tracy and mother, and Lori are tracking Sam’s
discovered that Tracy was already her mother were interested in long- development. Tracy and Sam are
involved with Healthy Families term support, but given Tracy’s age developing a strong mother-child
America, another of our programs. and situation, typical resources for bond and Tracy is exclusively
For months, Tracy had worked new mothers experiencing stress or breastfeeding Sam.
with Family Support Worker Lori to depression were not the right fit. The
prepare for Sam’s birth. team was faced with a challenge:
what is the right kind of support for
The moment of a first homecoming this young teenage mom coping with
with mother and baby is often a a newborn, worried about returning
vulnerable time for new parents. to school, and facing her own mental
health challenges?
Tracy and her team came up with a
plan. They arranged for Tracy to meet
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