Luci met her Parent Educator when she was overwhelmed by the thought of new motherhood. She was balancing classes at a local community college and experiencing the challenges of living at home with her mother while preparing to give birth.

Through the Parents as Teachers program, Luci was able to work on stress management and receive proper prenatal care, making every doctor’s appointment. She worked on breathing techniques and learned about breastfeeding, taking every precaution to ensure that her child would be given every opportunity to develop and thrive in the healthiest environment possible. When Luci’s daughter was born in March of last year, she tackled challenges as they came. Along with her Parent Educator, Luci learned how to handle a runny nose and cheered as the baby took her first steps across the living room.

While reflecting upon her time in the program, Luci especially remembers  the education about developmental milestones. “They helped me to know that she is on point with her development,” she said. “You know…that everything is normal.” Through this type of education, Luci gained confidence as a parent, and now is able to effectively identify challenges and face them independently.

For Eva, her role as a CNA with Family Lifeline’s Home Care program is more than just a job. For Eva, her position at Family Lifeline led her to a second family. When Eva began working at Family Lifeline in the mid-90s, she was assigned to the case of Ms. Bailey. Ms. Bailey, who had rarely been sick in her long life, had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her health declined quickly, and her family was struggling with this challenging and heartbreaking situation. Ms. Bailey’s daughter, who was trying to work full time and take care of her mother, soon realized that she needed assistance. That’s where Eva came in.

Eva served Ms. Bailey six days a week, and her hardworking nature and can-do attitude put Ms. Bailey’s family at ease right away. Described by many as a person “who doesn’t take anything for granted,” Eva took excellent care of Ms. Bailey. She kept her clean and comfortable, and always assured the family that their mother was in good hands. It was not long before the Baileys had “adopted” Eva as a member of their family. She attended their family functions and forged close and meaningful relationships with many of Ms. Bailey’s relatives. Because of Eva’s service and dedication to Ms. Bailey, her family was given the freedom and peace of mind to continue working, knowing that their loved one was being taken care of.

After seventeen years of dedicated care by Eva, Ms. Bailey passed away at the age of 95. The Baileys have fond memories of their mother’s last years at home, and Eva will always be a part of those memories. They honored Eva by including her in Ms. Bailey’s obituary, and continue to have a close relationship with her today.

When she was a senior in high school and six months pregnant with her son, Dominique was referred to Family Lifeline’s Healthy Families program by her high school guidance counselor.  At the time, JeVontae was a recent high school graduate and looking for work. The couple feared the stigma of “teen parenthood” and worried about their lack of parenting knowledge and the financial challenges they would face. After contemplating other options, such as adoption, Dominique and JeVontae made the decision to raise their son together.

With the help of their Healthy Families Parent Educator, Dominique and JeVontae worked through the early months of parenthood. They were eager to provide a stable home for their son, and made great strides to create a safe and healthy environment for him. Dominique consistently set goals for herself and her son. She is currently employed and is also studying for her Medical Assistant certification test, and JeVontae is employed as well. Dominique and JeVontae both participate in Family Lifeline’s Parent Groups, which gives them an opportunity to interact with other young parents, and allows their son time to socialize as well.

Over the past two years, Dominique and JeVontae have evolved into wonderful parents and positive role models for their son and for others. Most recently, they participated in Healthy Families Advocacy Day, where they shared personal stories with Virginia legislators. They also donate their son’s gently used items to other families in the program. Their positive attitude and commitment to the program is inspiring. The two are newly engaged and plan to be married this summer.