First Born is for first-time parents. In many communities, the program is offered as First Born and More and is available to any family who is expecting or has a child under five.
The program, founded on the belief that supported families create healthy communities, focuses on strong relationships and health in the early years.
Interested in becoming a First Born Program?
Regular home visits with a supportive home visitor
Research-based curriculum shared by trained home visitors
Knowledge about and connection to community services
Connect with your local home visiting program.
First Born started in Silver City, New Mexico in 1997. It is now in 15 of New Mexico’s 33 counties. In 2018 the model office moved from Silver City to the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at the Santa Fe Community College.
Click your county on the map to contact your county office.
Contact your county office.
Santa Fe Community College
First Born Director: Tekla Johnson – tekla.johnson@sfcc.edu 505-428-1344
Northern New Mexico First Born Program
Louise E. Hoogerhuis, Program Manager – louh.fbnnm@gmail.com. 505-454-1343
First Born Program – Los Alamos
Ellen Ben Naim, Program Manager – ebennaim@firstbornla.org 505-661-4810
Northwest New Mexico First Born Program
Crystal Kasuse, Program Manager– crystal@nwnmfirstborn.org 505-863-8850
Northern New Mexico First Born Program
Louise E. Hoogerhuis, Program Manager – louh.fbnnm@gmail.com. 505-454-1343
Rio Arriba First Born Program – United Way of Santa Fe
Lakersha Montaño, Program Manager– Lakersham@uwsfc.org 505-819-7266
Northern New Mexico First Born Program
Eduvijes “Vicki” Lopez, Program Manager– eduvijes@nwnmfirstborn.org. 505-863-8850
Northern New Mexico First Born Program
Louise E. Hoogerhuis, Program Manager – louh.fbnnm@gmail.com. 505-454-1343
First Born Program- United Way of Santa Fe
Lakersha Montaño, Program Manager – Lakersham@uwsfc.org. 505-819-7266
The First Born Program at Presbyterian Health Services Socorro
Beth Beers, Program Manager – bbeers@phs.org 575-835-8791
Learn more about our web-based, home visiting training institute.
“I see how my family and home visitor have adapted to the new ways of doing our home visits and I commend all the workers with First Born too. You guys are unstoppable."
- McKinley County, New Mexico
"I love that my daughter can see, speak, and talk to [our home visitor] through zoom meetings. My daughter is happy and gets over-excited, wants all the attention, and shows off at times. It is great!"
- McKinley County, New Mexico
"We often feel like we’re barely keeping our heads above water and our home visitor’s visits make us feel like Olympic swimmers."
- Santa Fe County, New Mexico
"We love all the helpful information and feedback and reflection. We also like just having the time to discuss any topic that is current for us."
- First Born participant from Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Families who received FIRST BORN® services in 2019
Visits families received in 2019
FIRST BORN® started in Silver City, New Mexico in 1997
The program offered free home visiting services to families in 15 counties in New Mexico