Baby Bear Hugs

Changing the lives of parents and children!

Through one time and ongoing home visits Baby Bear Hugs provides support, parenting education, and connection to community resources to 'soon to be parents' and parents of infants and toddlers.

The Universal programs of Baby Bear Hugs include Bright by Three, Ongoing Parenting Education, Partners for a Healthy Baby Curriculum, Nurturing Parenting training through home visits and in classes, Healthy Living training through home visits and in classes, Ages & Stages screenings, and play groups.

Programs of Bright by Three. Program A (0 to 12 months) – this one time visit after the birth of the baby emphasizes positive parent-child interactions, the importance of reading to children from birth, information on feeding, crying, sleeping, health, safety, brain development, and games parents can play with a child to stimulate healthy development. It also addresses access to health insurance and finding quality childcare. Program B (12 to 24 months) – ideally delivered when the child is 1 year old this visit focuses on language development, emphasizes the importance of talking with, encouraging and playing with children, the importance of reading to children everyday, presents information to enhance vocabulary development and positive interactions. Program C (24 to 36 months) – is ideally delivered when the child is 2 and emphasizes strategies and information regarding consistent and positive guidance and discipline, importance of talking with, encouraging and playing with children, health, safety, understanding of developmental milestones, and games to stimulate growth.
Bright by Text

During Ongoing Visits Baby Bear Hugs connects trained visitors to families for weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly visits providing support, education, and connection to community resources. Based on the families’ needs, the visitor brings information, books, resources and discusses them with the mother/family, and helps them work through unique issues. Together the visitor and family establish 3 goals that they will work toward.

Through the use of Ages & Stages Developmental and Social Emotional Screenings parents are educated about child development and children are screened for appropriate development.

Families may choose to participate in Partners for a Healthy Baby or Nurturing Parenting curriculum on ongoing home visits. Nurturing Parenting Classes are offered when funding is available.

545 families were served through Baby Bear Hugs this past year.