The Family Resource Center: Thirty-Five Years of Healthier Families

It’s a rare and exciting opportunity when we are presented with a chance to improve our community for generations to come. Thirty-five years ago, a small, grassroots group of like-minded citizens of Prescott, Arizona, was given that opportunity. Little did they know that future generations would continue to benefit from their concern for our children and their vision for our community’s future.

First Steps: Beyond Medical Care

The group included teachers, social workers, parents and representatives from Yavapai Regional Medical Center. They discussed the need to broaden community support for new parents beyond traditional medical expectations. This would include education and emotional resources as parents navigate their important new roles. The First Steps program was born and is still going strong today.

Through First Steps, specially trained volunteers provide information to every family giving birth at Yavapai Regional. They discuss important topics such as how to properly place your child for sleep to prevent SIDS and the signs of postpartum depression. Free counseling services are also available.

“We assess what each individual family might need and tailor what we offer accordingly,” said David Barko, director of the Family Resource Center. “We may have first-time parents, teen mothers, people who never graduated high school, or people who are married with post-doctorate degrees. We meet parents where they are.”

Healthy Families: A National Model

Two years later, springing from the success of the First Steps program, the now nationally acclaimed Healthy Families program was developed and launched at Yavapai Regional Medical Center.

Many parents voiced that when growing up, they had a parenting approach modeled to them that wasn’t working for their own children. These new parents wanted to break the “generational cycle” by learning the latest science of early child development. They wanted to create new habits, strategies and ways of understanding situations so they could have a healthier family than what they experienced as children. This is what Healthy Families is all about.

Healthy Families builds relationships with parents and families, primarily through a series of home visits by a trained specialist. The relationship that develops serves as a model for what healthy, nurturing relationships can look like. The home visits also offer connection to community resources and emotional support for the families.

“We know from research and science that the first three to five years of life are the most critical,” said Barko. ”Every experience, interaction, feeling and relationship a child has during these years literally affects the brain’s development. They set the stage for the rest of the child’s life.”

One parent reflects on what Healthy Families means to her and her family. “I’ve changed a lot,” she explained. “I learned to take care of myself and respect myself for who I am. I learned that I have the power to change.”

Little did that grassroots group know in 1989 that the ripples of their efforts would be felt far beyond Prescott. Now one of the top evidenced-based family visitation programs in the country, Healthy Families, is currently going strong in 38 states. In addition, there is a Healthy Families program in every county of Arizona.

Something Better for Myself and My Child

The life-changing programs at the Family Resource Center are best appreciated in light of the impact they have on individual parents.

Lila (not her real name) was raised by her grandparents, who were alcoholics. They separated when she was a child. Lila spent her childhood in and out of foster care. She enrolled in Healthy Families at 16 years old, one week after having her baby, Alissa (not her real name). The father left when Alissa was three months old.

Lila decided that she wanted “something better for myself and my child.”

Lila has been enrolled in Healthy Families for four-and-a-half years. Her caseworker is thrilled with the strides she is making.

“She recently moved out of her boyfriend’s parents’ house into an apartment with her sister, niece and nephew,” said Lila’s caseworker. “While it isn’t ideal, it’s what she can afford for now. She was able to establish clear boundaries for this shared space with her sister, who is older than Lila.”

“Lila was especially clear about how she plans to parent her child and that her sister needs to support her decisions. Best of all, Lila continues to work on getting her high school diploma while working full time and providing for Alissa.”

Services That Keep our Community Healthy and Safe

Answering another need in the Quad Cities, the Family Resource Center offers car seat safety checks to ensure that children travel safely in car seats that are secured correctly and in good condition. The checks are conducted by nationally certified technicians. Free car seats are also available for families in need.

“We’re unique here as far as hospitals go,” said Barko. “There aren’t many hospitals in the country that offer the scope of services that we offer at the Family Resource Center.”

Barko says that the staff is the backbone of the program. “If I were to describe our team, the words that come to mind are empathy, heart and spirit,” he explained. “Our goal is that with every visit, every connection, we keep another child safe and help with their start in life.”

It’s the combination of evidenced-based programs, a highly qualified, compassionate staff and a finger on the pulse of the needs of our community that explains why the Family Resource Center is celebrating 35 years of service to our community. The Family Resource Center is making a difference…for generations to come. QCBN

By Joanne Mack Robertson

For more information on the Family Resource Center at Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center, contact David Barko at 928-771-5651 or david.barko@commonspirit.org.

Courtesy Photo: The team at the Family Resource Center provides helpful information to new parents including the latest science about early child development.