Growing Strong Families

Problem:
Many families with children birth to five years of age periodically wonder if their child is growing at the appropriate ages and stages of development. Parents tend to compare their child to those of families and friends. Often, parents become upset if their child is not developing at a “normal” rate. Also many parents are concerned about having their child ready for kindergarten.

The Response:
The Growing Strong Families Program has just completed its seventh year in Taylor County as a monthly home visitation program. Funding has been secured each year to employ two parent educators. This year Taylor County Empowerment funded 70 hours for two parent educators. Ninety-eight families enrolled in Growing Strong Families this past year including 11 Latino families and two Asian families. The number of children served through Growing Strong Families was 152. Families receive information on parenting, resource management and nutrition with monthly visits. A literacy program, The Family Storyteller, enhances this program effort. Six hundred fourteen visits were conducted during this past year. Seventy-five developmental screenings have been completed with seven referrals given, and six families accessing care following a referral.

Impact:

• A 30-month-old child I work with has virtually no vocabulary, grunts and points, does not babble, and has not shown much in the way of changes in inflection since I began working with him, until recently. A speech pathologist from AEA has spoken with me individually and has worked with me in home visits to try to get some language development begun in this child. Recently, we have been able to hear some animal sounds like “roar” for bear, “meow” for cat, and “woof” for dog. This is a huge step in getting him toward more sounds, and eventually words. *Since the original writing of this success story, he has moved past the animal sounds to mimicking lots of partial words! He (without my modeling first) said “ow” for cow when I asked him what that animal was. He has also said mama! ) Parent Educator
• “I enjoy getting information on where my child should be at different stages of development. I like getting ideas for different activities and different ways of dealing with certain behaviors.” Mom
• “The developmental information helps us understand why he (her son) behaves the way he does in certain situations. Mom
• “ … it is like having your own private nurse or doctor come to your house but it is better because they know the answer or will find out for you and they give you a lot more information than your own doctor…” Mom
• A minority family I work with has commented to me that where she comes from, parents do very little to assist children in what Americans consider preschool skills. Children just wait to learn those skills when they go to school. However, this mom has clearly been working with her preschool-age children on colors and counting and her 14-month old was gleefully joining in on the actions of “If you’re happy and you know it”!

Contact:
Kim Brantner
Taylor County Extension Education Director
312 Main
Bedford, IA 50833
Phone 712-523-2137; Fax 712-523-2139
Email brantner@iastate.edu