The Butte Community Council, Butte's early childhood coalition, has brought three new free programs to the community.
Partners within the Butte Community Council came together to form the Healthy Families Network. The network offers free, voluntary home visiting programs to children, families, and first-time moms. The Butte Community Council partnered with the early childhood coalition in Anaconda to provide these valuable programs in this community as well.
The Healthy Families Network consists of the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department, Butte 4-C’s, AWARE, the Anaconda-Deer Lodge Health Department, and the Anaconda Family Resource Center. These five entities joined together to bring three new programs to the two communities. The programs are:
Nurse Family Partnership is an evidence-based program that connects pregnant, first-time moms with a nurse. The nurse meets the mom in her home or a place of her choosing and provides information, resources, and support to her prior to the birth of her child and following until the child is age two. Nurse Family Partnership is available in Butte.
SafeCare, an evidence-based program, provides information and resources to a family with children age 0 through 5 in the areas of health, safety, parent-child interaction, communication, and problem solving. Items such as a first aid kit, digital thermometer, safety locks, and a children’s health manual are provided to each family in this program. Families spend one-on-one time with a SafeCare professional for approximately four to six months. SafeCare is available in Butte and Anaconda.
Parents as Teachers, also evidence-based, is available to families with children age 0 through 5. It focuses on parents being their child’s first and most important teacher. Parents as Teachers’ professionals are available to spend time with families for up to two years. They offer developmentally appropriate activities including an emphasis on literacy and school readiness. Parents as Teachers is available in Butte and Anaconda.
All three programs are voluntary and free.
"The early years of a child’s life are extremely important to their development. All families may benefit from these programs. We currently have openings in each of the programs and look forward to adding new families," according to a news release from the programs.
Details: 406-497-5015 in Butte or 406-563-7863 in Anaconda.