Rural home visitors give moms emotional, practical support
The first months of a baby's life can be extremely isolating for a new mother, especially in a rural community.
Employees at Family Connections in rural El Dorado County know this. That's why they make sure to regularly visit new mothers in the program.
The home visitors who work for Family Connections work to link new mothers with needed social services or to support them during stressful times.
"It's layers of isolation," said Deb Jensen, assistant director of Family Connections. "You're in a rural community. You're a new mom. And maybe you don't speak the language."
Needs can range from parenting classes to transportation to finding a local pediatrician.
"If they don't have their license we go to the (Department of Motor Vehicles)to get them a book to study or we call bus transit for a schedule," said Bertha Vargas, a home visitor. "If they don't have a physician or a family doctor or a pediatrician ... we give them names of doctors."
The help has been immeasurable for moms such as Jessica Farias, who has a 5-month-old son named Trust.
"I wanted to reach out to form a network of support around me," Farias said. "We talk about when I'm having a hard time with my children."
The Family Connections program also works to provide baby items such as diapers to families in need. Employees have asked Book of Dreams readers to help them buy diapers for mothers.
"When moms don't have to worry about meeting their child's essential needs - like where am I going to get diapers - they can focus on their families," said Lorrie Evers, a home visitor with Family Connections.