About the First Born® Program
Vision
First Born creates positive and meaningful family and community change.
The Mission of First Born Program
To encourage families to build strong relationships. The program provides quality training for home visitors and program leadership to ensure meaningful family and community outcomes.
First Born is relationship-centered and curriculum-based. Families who participate in home visits receive coaching, support, information about early childhood development, health, nutrition and safety and learn fun activities to help build brain development and learning. The First Born Program was named one of the nation’s 10 most innovative and exemplary prevention programs in 2002 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, along with several other agencies.
Through weekly home visits, families identify personal goals, recognize challenges and opportunities for growth and build a healthy, loving, playful relationship with their child.
Children are born learning. The foundation of relationships, experiences and skills developed in the first five years support a lifetime of success. The First Born Program supports child development in the areas of social emotional development, language, literacy and problem solving skills. Investing early means better outcomes for children, happier families and healthier communities.
Tekla Johnson, LCSW
Director, First Born® Model Office and Institute for Innovative Family Programs
Tekla Johnson, First Born Statewide and National First Born Program Director, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Doula and has Infant Mental Health Endorsement (Level II) in the state of New Mexico. She has 20 years of home visiting experience and more than ten years of experience with the First Born® Home Visiting program. After working as a home visitor for 9 years, Ms. Johnson moved into a leadership role and served as the program manager for the Santa Fe First Born® Program during its startup phase, and first five years of implementation. She has worked as a direct program manager as well as providing supervision and oversight to program managers as VP of Leadership and Innovation. Having worked at all levels of home visiting (as well as receiving home visiting services for her child through early intervention), Ms. Johnson enjoys supporting programs to implement high quality services for families, focused on joy, learning and strong relationships.
Topeka Morro-Vega
Program Manager, First Born® Model Office
Topeka Morro-Vega has over 20 years of social work experience and over 15 years of child welfare administration experience. She worked at all levels within the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, from case manager to county director. Most recently, Ms. Morro-Vega served as a Program Director responsible for the design and implementation of a program serving unaccompanied minors who immigrate to the United States without adult supervision. She brings a wealth of experience in providing leadership, strategic planning, decision making, client/team management, contract management, data management, cultural diversity, and implementation of programs at a senior level. Her expertise lies in her ability to collaborate with senior and junior leadership and support them in thinking broadly and creatively about how to affect change. Ms. Morro-Vega is passionate about working with children and their families and is excited about supporting the First Born® Program.
Career Opportunities
Medical Director
We are excited to offer career opportunities in two distinct roles: First Born® Medical Director. If you are interested in either of these exciting career opportunities, please contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.
Staff from First Born Programs across New Mexico, gathering for professional development, September 2019 in Santa Fe, NM
First Born® Staff
Tekla Johnson, LCSW
Director, First Born® Model Office and Institute for Innovative Family Programs
Tekla Johnson, First Born Statewide and National First Born Program Director, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Doula and has Infant Mental Health Endorsement (Level II) in the state of New Mexico. She has 20 years of home visiting experience and more than ten years of experience with the First Born® Home Visiting program. After working as a home visitor for 9 years, Ms. Johnson moved into a leadership role and served as the program manager for the Santa Fe First Born® Program during its startup phase, and first five years of implementation. She has worked as a direct program manager as well as providing supervision and oversight to program managers as VP of Leadership and Innovation. Having worked at all levels of home visiting (as well as receiving home visiting services for her child through early intervention), Ms. Johnson enjoys supporting programs to implement high quality services for families, focused on joy, learning and strong relationships.
Topeka Morro-Vega
Program Manager, First Born® Model Office
Topeka Morro-Vega has over 20 years of social work experience and over 15 years of child welfare administration experience. She worked at all levels within the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, from case manager to county director. Most recently, Ms. Morro-Vega served as a Program Director responsible for the design and implementation of a program serving unaccompanied minors who immigrate to the United States without adult supervision. She brings a wealth of experience in providing leadership, strategic planning, decision making, client/team management, contract management, data management, cultural diversity, and implementation of programs at a senior level. Her expertise lies in her ability to collaborate with senior and junior leadership and support them in thinking broadly and creatively about how to affect change. Ms. Morro-Vega is passionate about working with children and their families and is excited about supporting the First Born® Program.
Staff from First Born Programs across New Mexico, gathering for professional development, September 2019 in Santa Fe, NM