The Early Path to Success

Healthy Families Program Promotes Strong Families

 

“As a parent, nobody knows everything,” says Michele Hughes, holding her 8-month-old daughter Shaniya at the Healthy Families monthly playgroup in Prescott Valley.



Michele and Shaniya at a Healthy Families playgroup.

 

 Michele and her family are participating in Healthy Families, a free home visiting program of Yavapai Regional Medical Center for families with children ages birth to five years that is funded in part by First Things First. Through the program, families receive regular visits from a Family Support Specialist, who provides them with individualized parenting education and support, assesses the development of their child, and connects them to any community resources they may need.

At the time Michele enrolled in Healthy Families, she was a single mother of three. She is now married to Brian, who also had three children from a previous marriage, and together, they had their daughter Shaniya.

Shaniya has special needs, and when she was born, Michele and Brian were grateful to be able to continue participating in Healthy Families . At three months, Shaniya was diagnosed with Chromosome Three Deletion, a  newly discovered and sparsely researched condition . Neither Shaniya’s doctors nor her parents knew exactly what to expect. When Shaniya began to miss some developmental milestones, Michele was apprehensive.

Coincidentally, their Healthy Families family support specialist, B.J., had a special needs child of her own, and was able to provide a wealth of support and practical advice based on her own experiences. “B.J has helped me go through the specific challenges of parenting a special needs child,” said Michele. “She’s relieved a lot of my concern and anxiety about it.”

B.J. told Michele that due to her daughter’s special needs, Shaniya would achieve milestones in a different way than other children. “That calmed me,” said Michele. “It let me know that Shaniya is on her own path and that it’s ok. No kid is going to fit the mold. Each child is unique and has their own way of walking through life.”

Being the mother of seven, Michele doesn’t have much time to socialize and stay connected to her community. She is grateful that B.J. comes and visits her regularly. “She’s my family support specialist, but I also consider her my friend,” said Michele. “I fully trust her. She answers any questions I have, and refers me to programs and other things I would have never known were out there.”

Healthy Families also holds monthly playgroups for families to come together, socialize, and participate in fun, educational family activities. “Anytime parents have a strong social network and somebody they can ask questions to, their children will benefit,” said Michele. Through their partnership with Healthy Families, Michele and Brian are making sure their children are on the path to success.

Healthy Families is made possible in the quad-city area through funding from First Things First. For more information about Healthy Families, please call (928)-771-5651. To learn more about First Things First, please visit ReadyAZKids.com.