Services

Family Connections


Empowering pregnant and parenting families to develop nurturing
relationships and connections within the community.

Serving families since 1996!

Family Connections Information

Generously supported by:
Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa, Winnebago Empowerment, Worth, Hancock &
Cerro Gordo County Empowerment and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa.

Prenatal information

Home Visits:
One-on-one home visits are offered by a registered nurse. Weekly visits may be scheduled in your home or a place convenient to you. These visits are designed to provide information and support about the question you have about you and your pregnancy.
 
Information Provided (but not limited to):
  • Healthy Pregnancy
  • Physical changes and discomforts
  • Maintaining your health
  • Doctor visits
  • Emotional needs
  • Nutrition
  • Fetal growth and development and a new baby’s needs
  • Bonding and attachment
  • Managing stress and time
  • Information on community prenatal education classes
  • Financial information
  • What you will need when the baby arrives
  • Encourage changes for a healthier lifestyle
  • Family involvement and their needs, including father-to-be and siblings
 
Costs:
This will cost nothing at all except your time and attention. Family Connections is free of charge to any family living in Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth and Winnebago counties.
 
For More Information:
Contact – Karen K. Smith
Family Connections Coordinator
641.421.2525 or 1.800.433.3883 Ext. 2525
E-mail: smithkk@mercyhealth.com

After birth information

Families and life have changed over the past years. Due to our ever-changing society having a baby can mean that there is not close support from the people in our lives that have been there in the past. This would include family, friends and neighbors. It is assumed that a child’s first and most effective support and nurturer is his/her own parents. Therefore, a great amount of emphasis should be placed upon what a community can do to assist expectant and new parents in parent education, empowerment and child development training.

Resources/Information Provided:
  • Care and education information
  • Nutritional information
  • Awareness of infant/toddler and child development and family interactions
  • Parenting skills
  • Family health care provider information
  • Counseling
  • Meeting basic family/child needs: food, shelter, clothing and transportation
  • Infant massage
 
Through home visits families can receive:
  • Connections with community agencies
  • Linkage to a medical provider to provide education and ongoing child health care checks and coordination of all medical needs
  • Information on community education classes, parent groups to assist in developing friendships and emotional support
  • Childcare resources
  • Respect, confidentiality and a listening ear about what is important to them
 
Costs:
This will cost nothing at all except your time and attention. Family Connections is free of charge to any family living in Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth and Winnebago counties.
 
For More Information:
Contact – Karen K. Smith
Family Connections Coordinator
641.421.2525 or 1.800.433.3883 Ext. 2525
E-mail: smithkk@mercyhealth.com

Teen Parent program

What do any of us know about being a new parent?
Maybe you have not given this much thought…until now. Children don’t come with a book of instructions and it’s often hard to know what is best for them and how to keep them safe and healthy. Family visitors work with you to find ways to deal with the parents challenges you face, share ideas and give you support.
 
What is in it for me?
A way to think about how to make your hopes and dreams come true for you and your baby.
 
Before baby arrives
  • Healthy pregnancy
  • You changing body
  • Your baby’s growth and development and a new baby’s needs
  • Connection to community agencies
 
After baby arrives
  • One-on-one home visits
  • Group activities with other teen parents
  • Information on being a new parent; Baby care, development and fun play activities
  • Getting your baby’s and your own needs met
  • Childcare resources and information
  • Financial information
  • Family health care provider information
  • Respect, confidentiality and a listening ear about what is important for your family.
  • Connections with community agencies
    • Financial information
    • Encourage changes for a healthier life style
  • Specialized group activities with other teen parents that focus on the unique needs of the entire family, including fathers and fathers-to-be.
  • Staying in school and/or getting your GED.
  • Earn class credit at local Alternative High School by participating in Family Connections, both at home and at school. To find out more about earning credit call 641.422.2525.
 
Costs:

This will cost nothing at all except your time and attention. Family Connections is free of charge to any family living in Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth and Winnebago counties.
 
For More Information:
Contact – Karen K. Smith
Family Connections Coordinator
641.421.2525 or 1.800.433.3883 Ext. 2525
E-mail: smithkk@mercyhealth.com

Prenatal Information | After Birth Information | Teen Parent Information