Partners for a Healthy Baby program addresses family needs

By IMCOM-EuropeApril 23, 2018

Strengthening families
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SEMABCH, Germany -- Army garrisons across Europe provide a variety of training throughout the year in support of military families. During April, activities are scheduled as a part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, which supports the Army mission of strong families.

In preparation for this year's CAPM, New Parent Support Program home visitors attended training on the research-based home visitation curricula series called Partners for a Healthy Baby. This curriculum, developed by The Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention, is designed to address the multifaceted needs of expectant and parenting families.

"We believe that Partners for a Healthy Baby goals -- including the strengthening of families, reducing child abuse, enhancing child health and developmental outcomes, and supporting stability and economic self-sufficiency -- directly align with NPSP goals," said Brandi Stauber, IMCOM-Europe Family Advocacy Program manager.

"They also align," she noted, "with one of the CPAM's key messages, 'Be Informed: Stay a step ahead, build your parenting skills', which is a part of the overall theme of Strong Communities Strengthen Families."

"The training increases a provider's ability to continue to build strong military families, decreasing the likelihood of child abuse/neglect, which is the key component of NPSP," said Hal Snyder, chief of IMCOM-Europe Army Community Service.

The curriculum tools are necessary for each home visitor to provide the most current research-based parenting education to families who may be expecting or parenting their first, second or even their fourth child, "as every birth event makes you a new parent," said Stauber.

Bringing a new baby or a second or third baby home can be a very stressful time to parents, "especially to parents who are a part of the military community stationed abroad without the familial support they are accustomed to while residing in the states," Stauber added.

Overall, FAP is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention and treatment of spouse, intimate partner and child abuse. The program provides a variety of services to Soldiers and families to enhance their relationship skills and improve their quality of life. This mission is accomplished through various groups, seminars, workshops and counseling and intervention services.

For more information about NPSP, call your garrison ACS.