Six United Ways in seven Northeast PA counties aligned to bring home visiting programs with a nurse or other trained professionals, providing individually tailored support, resources, and information to expectant mothers and families with young children. AllOne Foundation supported United Way of Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Lycoming, Hazleton and Pocono Mountains to help address health-focused Home Visiting programs centered on children from prenatal to three years old.
As a region, childhood poverty rates, substantiated abuse and neglect cases, maternal and newborn health data, and birth outcomes are unfavorable compared to state averages. As a result, many children in northeastern Pennsylvania are growing up in environments that are unhealthy, abusive, chaotic and neglectful. The funds will directly address these critical issues.
Because parents play a critical role in shaping children’s early development, interventions that reach families in these early years have great potential for producing long-term benefits. Health-focused home visiting programs work to build parenting skills and confidence; monitor developmental milestones; strengthen the bonds between parent and child; promote safe and supportive home environments; help families establish a medical home; provide timely and important information on parental and child health; identify and address postpartum depression, and link families to community resources. These supportive services are especially important for families in rural areas who may have limited access to transportation and feel secluded and lonely.
Photo Left to Right: Patrick Ward, United Way of Greater Hazleton; Bill Jones, United Way of Wyoming Valley; Kim Merithew, United Way of Susquehanna County; John Cosgrove; Michael Tukeva, Pocono Mountains United Way; Melissa McHale and Ron Frick, Lycoming County United Way
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