When families make it to the doctor’s office, that might be their one opportunity. So we meet as many of their needs as we can, right there.
Danielle, New York
Where Care Extends Beyond the Checkup
As a military spouse for more than 17 years, I raised four children while moving across the country, often far from family and support systems. At times, my husband was deployed, and I navigated pregnancy, birth, and early parenting on my own.
My parenting journey is full of moments where I didn’t have community around me. That experience shapes how I show up for families as a HealthySteps Specialist in Wayne County, New York.
Meeting Families Where They Are
Wayne County is a rural, agricultural region where poverty levels are high and there is limited access to services like public transportation, health care, child care and other community resources. For many families, getting to a pediatric visit takes planning and effort.
I see that as a critical opportunity. Working alongside pediatric providers, I offer support that goes beyond a typical checkup. Support that research shows makes a difference in setting up a child, and their family, for success. I help with feeding, sleep, child development, and maternal mental health, while connecting families to community resources.
For families like Shania and her son Cohen, that support starts early. I first met them just days after Cohen was born and continued to walk alongside them through the challenges of infancy, from feeding concerns to common illnesses. Over time, that consistent presence helped build confidence and trust.
Kids don’t exist in a vacuum. To support a child, you have to support the whole family.
Building Trust and Confidence
That means creating space for parents to be honest about how they are feeling, especially in the early months when everything is new.
Parenting can be really lonely. Sometimes what families need most is someone to listen and remind them they’re not alone.
My role is not just to provide guidance, but to build trust and confidence so parents feel capable in their own decisions. Through fostering relationships, HealthySteps improves well-child visit attendance.
Believing in Families to Support Babies
For me, the connection between parent well-being and child development is clear. Supporting a parent’s confidence and mental health is one of the most important things we can do for a baby.
In a rural community where resources can be limited, that support often starts with relationships. I work to build connections between families, providers, and local organizations so no one is navigating parenting alone. I want families to feel like they have a community around them. That someone will show up when they need it.
Believing in babies means investing in programs like HealthySteps so we can surround families with the care they need.
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