– First Step is to –
Services are delivered by trained professionals, diverse in age, culture, ethnicity, language, education, and experience. People who provide First Born services live in the community where they work and include degreed professionals (e.g., registered nurses, clinical counselors) and non-degreed professionals who provide support, education, assessment, referral and advocacy for participating families.
While there are many home visiting components that may be offered, support is most effective when matched to the individual family’s needs through a collaborative goal-setting process. First Born services occur within the context of a trusting relationship where, through coaching and regular visits, learning and growth can occur. Families are linked to the community’s systems of care and all services are coordinated. Strict confidentiality is maintained throughout the family’s participation.
Building strong relationships is a core value of the model — strong relationships between the family and their child, strong relationships between the family and their home visitor, and strong relationships between the family and their community. A healthy pregnancy and childhood are not only critical to the immediate well being of the child but are also basic to building resilient families and healthy communities.