Agency Details:
Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program
Healthy Start provides home visits to young, first-time parents, age 14-22. Trained parent mentors offer support, parenting information, and referrals to assist parents in making healthy choices for themselves and their children. Mentor training includes child and infant brain development, community resources, how to have a helping relationship, how to identify infant cues, and how to conduct a home visit.
Bilingual Spanish and English volunteers are especially encouraged to apply. The minimum age to mentor is 25. It is not required that you be a parent.
Description:
Healthy Start provides encouragement and support through home visiting before, rather than after, a family may encounter difficulties in life. This early intervention program
provides:
social support
healthy child development and safety
promotes positive parenting
provides referrals to other community agencies and resources
assists in securing adequate medical care through a primary health care provider
encourages steps towards family independence.
Parent mentors provide weekly visits to their participant and spend about 3-6 hours a month with them. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one year with their family, but families can stay in the program from pregnancy through birth so your relationship could last more than three years. The average amount of time moms stay in the program is 24 months.
History:
Healthy Start was begun in response to increased pregnancy rates in Snoqualmie Valley. It is now a collaborative project of Friends of Youth, Youth Eastside Services, Northshore Youth and Family, Center for Human Services,and Renton Area Youth Services. Healthy Start serves families on the eastside of Lake Washington from Renton to south Snohomish County, around the north end of Lake Washington,Issaquah and the Snoqualmie Valley. Outcomes of the Healthy Start Program include:
99% of Healthy Start children are up to date on well child checks, immunizations and within normal weight and height for their age.
All Healthy Start children have a medical providers.
Most parents report increased confidence in their parenting skills, which reduces child abuse. Parents learn the skills they need to discipline positively.
Many of the moms and dads in Healthy Start work are attending school, or other training programs.
Contact person: Karen Wilson, Parent Mentor Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Main office number: (425) 869-6490 x340Office fax number: (425) 869-6666
Address:
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16215 NE 87th St. #A-6Redmond, WA 98052 (See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.healthystartfamily.org
Directions:
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We are located at the Family Resource Center in Redmond. From 520 take the West Lake Sammamish Exit and go left. At the second light take a right on 85th. At the second light take a left at 161st. In. . . (more) |
Miscellaneous Information
| Liability |
|
Yes
|
| Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers? |
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No
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| Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18? |
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No
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| Last updated on July 30, 2009 |
Volunteer Reflections
Post Your Own!
Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program
5
Average Rating
(3
reflections)
Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program
5
Overall Experience
a very rewarding experience
|
Our agency is organized and communicative with clear objectives to help young mothers of young children. I am gaining social awareness and friendship while learning some things about myself.
posted on June 30, 2005 |
Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program
5
Overall Experience
I get back even more than I give!
|
I grew up in a family that was active in community volunteering of all types. As an adult, I have had many special volunteer experiences, but none that give me as much joy and fulfillment as being a Parent Mentor! The "match" that Karen Knight, volunteer coordinator, made between me and my mentee has been great for both of us! I have gotten to see my mentee grow from a scared, pregnant teenager to a confident mom and college student! The times we spend together (2-10 hours per month, depending on our schedules) are fun, playful, serious, enlightening, encouraging, and very special! These mom's are lucky to have such a great program as a resource. This is something ALL new parents could use!!
posted on September 6, 2002 |
Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program
5
Overall Experience
meaningful
|
I have really enjoy working with the Eastside Healthy Start Program. The advisor, Karen Knight's enthusiasm and passion for providing this service is infectious! I came in wanting to make a difference and was given the tools and training to do so. This program is very flexible and the events are fun. The other mentors are very supportive and the participants are all different and bring so many different experiences to share to the organization that benefit all parties involved. This program takes dedication and work as it does in building any relationship, but the long term results to these children of teenagers is worth it. I encourage anyone interested in this program who sincerely wants to help young families succeed, to contact Karen.
posted on August 28, 2002 |
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