First Steps program at Telfair BirthPlace offers parenting support, education

Becoming a mom – especially for the first time – can be both joyous and overwhelming. At the Telfair BirthPlace at St. Joseph’s/Candler, we believe all parents can benefit from support at the time of the birth of a child into the early years of a child’s life.

One such program that provides parents access to community-strengthening resources and education is First Steps. First Steps is a community-based program fully funded by the state and is offered in communities across the country. It provides:

• A personal visit prenatally or following birth by our dedicated First Steps coordinator
• Parenting information on topics such as:
• infant crying
• child and home safety
• early childhood brain development
• parent and infant health and wellness
• child development
• selecting caregivers
• readiness for school
• A local community resource guide for parents
• Access to community-strengthening resources

Our team at the Telfair BirthPlace understands there’s no tell-all book on being a mom. Through the information and connections provided by the First Steps coordinator, we hope to help ease some stress on growing families. Since its inception, the First Steps program has been shown to strengthen families by increasing protective factors known to promote well-being including:

• Encourage parent/child attachment and nurturing through education about the links between infant brain development and parental behaviors
• Promote parental resilience by providing emotional support to parents
• Promote social contacts by encouraging parents to reach out to the First Steps program coordinator, community organizations, parent support groups and family and friends
• Provide concrete support for parents with a local community resource guide and by connecting families with services and information specific to their needs/interests

Some of our community-based partners that we recommend to parents include: