Inside this issue

Preconception /Inter-conception Health Care .......................... 2

Family/Home Visiting ........... 3

Community Agency Profile:

The MotherHouse Nursery .... 4

Did you receive your text 2day?

iGrow Rockford

A local Home Visiting

Collaborative of the

Maternal Infant Early

Childhood Home Visiting

Program (MIECHVP)

City of Rockford Early Head Start,

La Voz Latina, Easter Seals Teen

Family Support Program and

Rockford Public Schools #205

Early Childhood Program

If not, you have been far too busy! Stop. Take time

now and sign up for text4baby!! It’s easy, simple, fun

and you can also enroll to receive reminders for im-

portant appointments.

Text4baby is a free* health education service that

helps reinforce key messages for pregnant women and

mothers with babies under one through your mobile

device. Features can be set-up for text message remind-

ers like doctor appointments, WIC appointments, home

visits and other appointments needed for your busy

schedule. If you are expecting a baby, it works like this:

Text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411. When

prompted, enter baby’s due date and zip code. You

will begin to receive important health messages 3 X a

week relative to the status of your pregnancy.

Signing up for free appointment reminders is easy

too!! Text REMIND (or CITA for Spanish) to 511411.

Enter appointment date. Ex: 04/15/2015. Enter ap-

pointment description with time, place and purpose.

Ex: 2pm apt w Dr. Jones.

I currently use Text4baby for appointment reminders

just to keep on track. ♡it!

On behalf of the Rockford iGrow Collaborative and

Home Visiting team -Welcome Spring and Happy

Texting !! -CBoyd

Spring 2015

Building strong foundations

for families in our community.

PURPOSE OF THE IGROW

NEWSLETTER

To keep clients informed

about our community’s

Home visiting Program.

To increase communication

and awareness with commu-

nity agencies, stakeholders,

and the community-at-large.

To provide a venue for infor-

mation-sharing between

home visitors, families, cli-

ents, advocates and friends of

iGrow.

To Join Text

BABY (or BEBE for Spanish)

to 511411

You can also sign up on-line at:

Text4baby.org *If you don’t have a text

messaging plan, you can still

get these messages for free.

Check the website for details

and supported carriers.

Apps and TV Shows for Kids

As reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Preconception Health and Healthcare fo-cuses on steps to take now before you become pregnant, in order to protect the health of your baby now, and in the future. Improving preconception health can contribute to improvement in pregnancy, and pregnancy related outcomes. Preconception health is important for both men and women, even if you are not planning to have a baby. If a woman plans to become pregnant, preconception health care counseling can not only aid in identifying risk factors, but provide in-terventions to prevent developmental conditions that could jeopardize the health of the mother and fetus. These are just a few steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby if you are planning to have a baby.

1. Take a multi-vitamin (at least 400mg folic acid daily).

2. Get regular medical care for health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, or depres-sion.

3. Get regular, physical activity.

What is Inter-conception Health and Healthcare? Inter conception health emphasizes the period between pregnan-cies (the end of one and the beginning of the next one). Planning your pregnancy if you want more children or prevent-ing pregnancy if you don’t is important. Your body fully recovers if there is spacing of at least 12 months apart. Make sure you talk with your Physician regarding family planning and choosing birth control for your needs.

A few steps in Inter conception health care includes:

1. Nutrition Counseling.

2. Genetic Counseling .

3. Help with smoking cessation and avoidance of drugs and alcohol. Source: CDC, EverThrive, IL

WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD COLLABORATION OF ROCKFORD

Early Childhood Family Fun Fair - April 11, 2015 - Heartland Community Church - 10:00 - 2:00 pm (Activities, games, vendors, learning and fun)

Baby Games (app)

White Noise Baby (app)

Dinosaur Train (app)

Pet + Cat (3+) PBS Kids

Parents: Check out commonsense.org for reviews on movies, apps and TV shows. This website give reviews, age-

appropriate recommendations, ratings and educational value from teachers, parents, etc.

Lazoo: Squiggles! (3+) free

(Apple only)

Daniel Tiger’s Grr--ific Feelings (3+) $3 iPad and Android

Preconception, Inter-conception Health & Care

Check with your Physician for additional information on Preconception and Inter-conception Health and Healthcare.

The Winnebago County Health Department has limited quantities of select preconception, post-partum and inter-conception care marketing ma-terials available.

Please call 815-720-4168 to request.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Nickelodeon (2+)

My Baby Babsy- Playground (app)

Kristen Robb and son Gabriel.

Gabriel is 3 years old and receives Home

Visits.

Home Visitor Kathy Stem has worked with the Robb

family for over three years. The family has faced several

challenges. One was that Gabriel was diagnosed with

developmental delays. “As their Home visitor, I was able

to help, support, and guide them through the diagnosis”.

The Robb family are now accessing services through the

Easter Seals Tap Program. “I feel fortunate to go with

them on appointments so we can have discussions on the

entire process”. The family was also able to get their son

into a program through the Harlem School District at Par-

ker Center where he is gaining a love for learning! “Gabriel

is a sweet, good natured boy who is always happy to see

me at home visits. When I arrive he runs to the table to get

ready to make a craft! I am so proud of his parents for be-

ing so open to learning new ways to help Gabriel. Gabriel’s

mom is now researching on-line activities to help develop

her son’s skills”.

Three (3) year old Hezekiah, learns

Math with Home Visitor, Kathy Stem.

Kathy Stem has worked at Easter Seals for 12 years. She

has worked in the Teen Family Support program, as well

as positions of Assessment Worker, Doula and now as

Home Visitor. “I have loved all of my positions, and so

very proud of all my families. I greatly enjoy watching

them become confident, loving parents”.

Recently, I have become a Grandma and another will be

due in July. My hobby now is shopping for my Grandchil-

dren! My other passion is football and cooking ...and yes,

I do combine the two!! I also love thrift shopping and find-

ing the best deals ever”!!

A Word About Home Visiting in Illinois...

MIECHV (iGrow) Home Visiting build upon decades of scientific research showing that home visits by a nurse, social worker, early childhood educator, or other trained professionals during pregnancy and in the first years of life improve the lives of children and families by preventing child abuse and neglect, supporting positive parenting, improving maternal and child health and promoting child development and school readiness. Re-search also show evidence-based home visiting can provide a positive return on investment to society through savings in public expenditures on emergency room visits, child protective services, special educa-tion, as well as increased tax revenues from parent earnings. Through federal grants from the Home Visiting Program, in fiscal year 2014, home visitors in Illinois:

Made 12, 586 home visits to 1,799 parents and children in 924 families

Enrolled 786 new parents and children to the program

Served families living in 7 counties across the state of Illinois (including Winnebago County)

For more information go to: acf.hhsgov/programs/ecd/homevisiting

DADs MATTER. GET DAD SIGNED UP FOR TEXT4BABY. Dads CAN FOLLOW ALONG IN BABY’S DEVELOPMENT!!

Community Agency

children’s home + aid

MotherHouse Crisis Nursery

Address

Phone

Website

Hours of Operation

1603 South 4th Street

Rockford, IL 61104

815-962-4858 (24 hr hotline)

Childrenshomeandaid.org

24 hour childcare services / 365 days a year

Services Provided MotherHouse Crisis Nursery offers no cost prevention and intervention

services that provides a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for

children during situations of family crisis and emergencies. Children must

be 6 years or under to attend. Family interactions also lead to improving

long-term, well being of children and prevent severe problems in family

functioning. Parenting classes are also offered to participants on Tues-

days and Thursdays from 9-11:30 am. Classes are open to anyone who

would like to attend. Call for a family tour!

Periodically, the iGrow Newsletter will feature one or more agencies in the Rockford community that are available to assist families in time of need.

These agencies provide many tools, resources and services from basic to complex. Many agencies offer more than one service and can often direct or

refer families to other agencies in the community.

Community Agency Profile

Winnebago County Health Department Coordinated Intake and Referral 555 North Court Street Rockford, IL 61103 Phone: 815-720-4000 If you would like more information about IGROW, would like to be referred, or placed on our newsletter mailing list, please contact Coordinated Intake at: 815-720-4000 or email us at: igrow@wchd.org. Visit us at: igrowrockford.org Prior editions of iGrow Newsletters can be found at: wchd.org—Select Maternal and Child Health / iGrow Home Visiting Program. Newsletter Editor: C Boyd, WCHD-Community Systems Development Coord. Contributing Editor: J. Barker, WCHD– ACA In-Person Counselor Coord. Contributors to this issue: Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago- Rockford Region

This program was made possible by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

which authorizes the creation of the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Education Home Visiting

(MIECHV) Program. Winnebago County Health Department serves as the lead agency. The

program is carried out in conjunction with four Rockford home visiting partnering agencies,

(listed below), in addition to the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, IL De-

partment of Human Services and the State of Illinois.

iGrow Rockford Collaborative Agencies

Easter Seals Metropolitan

Chicago - Rockford Region

815-965-5069 x 1233

City of Rockford Early Head

Start - 779--348-7169

Rockford Public Schools

District#205

Early Childhood

Program

815-967-8030

LaVoz Latina

815-965-5784