For 33 years, I have dedicated my career at Catholic Charities to mothers and families. From my first role as a Head Start teacher to my current role as director of our Pregnancy and Parenting program, I really enjoy seeing the interactions and the bonding between mothers and their babies.
The mothers who participate in our programs are already great moms who love their kids; they’re just trying to become even better moms. They come to us very vulnerable and trusting. We don’t try to teach them — we accompany them. We listen to their goals and help them.
Mothers attend our parenting group sessions, and staff conduct home visits to witness how parents interact with their children. I love seeing the parent-child interactions and family bond strengthen.
It’s also very rewarding for me to witness the care our staff brings to mothers and their families. Our doulas and our home visitors have built a rapport to make strong connections with these families, which is vital to the work they do.
Once we build that relationship and trust, we can walk hand-in-hand with mothers. We accompany them as they learn about important developmental milestones for their children, then encourage them to establish goals we can work toward together.
Mothers of all ages seek the expertise of our doulas, who meet with them to discuss their desired birth plans and ensure those plans have been reviewed and approved by their doctor. Doulas teach new mothers what to expect during and after labor and delivery. They show them how to feed their baby and encourage regular pediatrician wellness visits.
Our team provides diapers and wipes, developmental toys and other essentials during home visits, as well as referrals for pediatricians, childcare or other resources to help mothers be successful.
Mothers and children from low-income households disproportionately experience worse outcomes during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, creating gaps that last into adulthood and carry over to the next generation. In Cook and Lake counties, some of the highest maternal mortality rates and worst health disparities exist in low-income communities.
Catholic Charities offers expert guidance and loving care to at-risk parents and caregivers during the critical months before and following birth, improving the health of mothers and babies, building conditions for lifelong health, and moving more families impacted by poverty toward optimal outcomes.
We offer free programs for eligible mothers and families in and around Chicago’s Roseland community and beyond, as well as those residing in Chicago’s western suburbs and Lake County. All of these programs send Catholic Charities team members to visit expectant and new parents with young children to strengthen parent-child interactions and family bonds.
Last year, our team provided 2,593 successful home visits to 548 parents in our community.
I encourage mothers to ask questions and be open to learning. They learn to develop a bond with their baby by talking to and reading to their baby, and they learn practical skills around feeding their baby, providing developmental toys and more.
I was born and raised in Roseland, and I drive by the house I grew up in every day on my way to work. I know this community well, and I remember what it was like to be a new mom and how scary it can be. We teach moms how to enjoy these early days with their babies, because it goes fast.