Berrien Parents Care Programs

Berrien County Health Department

Nurse Family Partnership (NFP)
269-927-5631 Benton Harbor
*Excerpt from Michigan.gov

Register for Berrien Parents Care Programs Today!

Register once, and we will do the rest! We will contact you to let you know which programs best suit the needs of you and your child.
> Registration Form for Parents

Are you pregnant with your first child?

This program was designed for first time pregnant women. Nurse-Family Partnership provides a personal nurse to work with you from now until your child’s second birthday. The program promotes a healthy pregnancy and baby. We work hard to connecting moms to childcare, job training, education, and to set goals for your family’s future.

The Nurse-Family Partnership is a FREE, voluntary program that partners first-time moms with nurse home visitors. When you enroll in the program, a trained nurse will visit you throughout your pregnancy and until your baby turns two years old. During these visits, your nurse will offer you the knowledgeable advice and support you need to confidently create a better life for your baby and yourself.

Most first time moms have many questions. The Nurse-Family Partnership starts working with you before your baby is even born! Register as soon as you know you are pregnant. By meeting with you in early pregnancy, your nurse home visitor can answer questions and concerns, prepare you for the childbirth experience, and give your baby the advantage he/she needs.

From helping you through pregnancy, to coaching you on your child’s development, your nurse home visitor will be there for you, so you can be there for your baby.

Facts about the Berrien County Health Department’s Nurse-Family Partnership Program:
• Serves 100 first-time mothers in Berrien County.
• Provides weekly or biweekly nursing home visits with first-time moms beginning in pregnancy and continues until the baby turns 2 years old.
• A nurse home visitor works with mom on a healthy pregnancy outcome, her educational goals and economic self sufficiency, family planning, as well as the health of the infant, immunizations, and the growth & development of the child.
• All work with the client is done in her home setting.
• The importance of reading to a young child is encouraged through a “beginning library” book component of the program.

InterCare Community Health Network

Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP)
269-926-4394 Benton Harbor
269-461-3153 Eau Claire (Se habla español)
*Excerpts from InterCare

Register for Berrien Parents Care Programs Today!

Register once, and we will do the rest! We will contact you to let you know which programs best suit the needs of you and your child.
> Registration Form for Parents

Do you have an infant under the age of one?

A FREE program for infants under the age of 1 with Medicaid. Provides support to promote healthy pregnancies, good birth outcomes, and healthy infants. MIHP can help with housing, transportation, DHS, basic needs and more. Ofrecemos servicios en español.

It is our mission to provide pregnant women and babies with high-quality support services to help make sure both you and your baby are healthy and well. MIHP services are provided by licensed Social Workers, Registered Nurses, and Registered Dietitians. We work with you one-on-one and refer to local agencies to help you and your child to have the best start possible.

During your pregnancy, our team can visit you in your home or a place that is comfortable for you. After your baby is born, we will help you build a healthy future for you and your child by providing home visits.

InterCare Community Health Network is certified by the Michigan Department of Community Health to provide MIHP services to Medicaid-eligible women and infants. If you are not signed up for Medicaid, we can help you enroll.

During your pregnancy, we can help with:

• Prenatal health risks
• Nutritional concerns
• Pregnancy discomfort
• Diabetes education
• Childbirth education
• Stress management
• Breastfeeding support
• Transportation assistance
• Access to care including Mental Health services

Once your baby is born, we can help with:

• Education in basic infant care and safety
• Monitoring your baby’s growth and development
• Feeding and nutrition support
• Infant massage techniques
• Information on how to care for a special-needs child
• Parenting classes
• Birth control information
• Transportation assistance
• Access to care including Mental Health services

InterCare is certified by the Michigan Department of Community Health to provide in-home support MIHP services for pregnant women, new mothers, and infants on Medicaid (or MOMS).

Berrien RESA

Parents as Teachers Program (Se habla español)
269-471-7725
*Excerpt from Berrien RESA

Register for Berrien Parents Care Programs Today!

Register once, and we will do the rest! We will contact you to let you know which programs best suit the needs of you and your child.
> Registration Form for Parents

Do you have a child under the age of three?

A program for Berrien County residents with a child under the age of 3. Supports parents (mothers and/or fathers) in the role as their child’s first and most important teacher. Provides developmental information and screening, information that increases parenting confidence, fun parent-child activities, and play groups.

Ofrecemos servicios en español.

“Working together with families to ensure that young children are competent, self-assured, and ready for school!”

The Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program is a free service that is offered to families in Berrien County who are pregnant or have children under the age of three. The first three years of a child’s life are ESSENTIAL for laying a strong and positive foundation in all areas of their lives – education, health, behavior, and relationships. Because those first few years are so important, parents are a child’s FIRST and MOST INFLUENTIAL teachers!

Personal Home Visits are an opportunity to receive information that is individualized to your child and family. A Certified Parent Educator will visit you at your home and bring information and activity ideas specific to your young child’s age and development. The visits usually last about one hour and can occur weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Visits are an opportunity for parents to look closely at their child’s development, enhance the ways they promote their child’s learning, problem-solve any of the usual parenting concerns that arise, and increase their confidence that they are providing a strong and positive foundation for their child’s learning.

Early Head Start at Tri-County Head Start

1-800-792-0366 (Home Based)
*Excerpts from Tri County Head Start

Register for Berrien Parents Care Programs Today!

Register once, and we will do the rest! We will contact you to let you know which programs best suit the needs of you and your child.
> Registration Form for Parents

Do you have a toddler between 0 and 3 years old?

At Tri-County Head Start our philosophy is “Parents are the Best Teachers.” During the home visit, a parent is the lead teacher for their child. We partner with parents for ideas and give support, as well as assist with developmental concerns.

Since parents and families know their child best, parents/families set goals for their young child so they are ready for the Head Start classroom. Early Head Start works closely with families weekly to plan activities to do in the home.

What does the Home Visitor do?

•Supports infants/toddlers in learning through all kinds of fun experiences in the child’s own home.
•Provides a school experience in an infant/toddler classroom to practice for Preschool.
•Talk with families at the weekly home visit on what their infant/toddler learned during the week, and in between visits.
•Offer transportation to Well Child Exams, Dental Exams and the WIC office.
•Assists families (that are interested) in finding community resources for such things as nutrition, mental health, family planning, special education services, and housing.

What does the Home Based parent get to do?

• Have fun teaching their infant/toddler every week.
• Be the lead teacher for their child during the home visit and throughout the week.
• Plan and have fun in an infant/toddler school setting 2x’s a month.
• Plan activities for the child and family.

Why are parents so important to the Home Based Program?

• Parents have taught their children many things from the day their children were born.
• When parents are directly involved in teaching their children, the children do better for a longer period of time after they enter school.
• To work with a supportive home visitor about their child’s development.