
by Abby, Junior Board Member
The myHealth Becoming Program is named for its focus on supporting parents as they become the individuals they aspire to be. The program helps women gain the confidence to achieve their goals with the education and resources they need to pursue their dreams and be the parents they wish to be.
Pregnancy can oftentimes feel overwhelming, especially without having the tools and support you need. MyHealths’ Becoming Program supports young mothers to feel prepared and ready for the next steps in their life. The Becoming Program is free to pregnant or parenting individuals 12-26 who live in Carver, Scott, or Western Hennepin County. Through the program, mothers are offered one-on-one nurse home visits where they are guided through childhood development and provided with unique support to meet their needs.
Jen, the program’s nurse, says that no two visits are the same. She first offers time for the clients to describe any issues or concerns that they may want to address in the meeting. If the clients don’t have anything specific to discuss, Jen will cover topics corresponding to where the client is in their pregnancy or parenting journey. This could include checking in on any appointments scheduled or attended, completing a child development questionnaire, doing a home safety check, working on wellness goals, celebrating life successes, and troubleshooting challenges. In Jen’s words, the program is “a fun way to help parents acquire tools for their parenting tool belt.” With every home visit another tool is being added or honed.
The program also offers a monthly wellness group where women can connect with their peers and discuss the shared experiences of pregnancy and parenting while being supported by staff.
Jen says, “A lot of moms have shared that they feel judged as a young mom. They learn very quickly that they will not be judged when they meet with me or any of our staff. We are always so proud of young people for showing up and taking care of themselves and their health!”
All women within the program join with unique experiences. The biggest challenges that women face as they enter into the program are transportation, financial strain, and a lack of social support. Jen provides tailored support to each woman in the program offering insurance navigation, emotional support, and childcare supplies. Women in the program can receive free diapers, children books, journals, toys, cookbooks, water bottles, yoga mats, and other wellness-related items.
Jen comments on the dedication and resilience of the women she works with. She shares, “There are too many success stories to choose from—our Becoming moms are just awesome! We have had moms get their high school diploma or GED while pregnant or parenting young children, repair strained relationships with food and eating, work daily to nurture their mental and physical health in so many ways, and model healthy habits for their kiddos. This all takes an extreme amount of work and dedication.”
By the time mothers age out of the program, they have made incredible strides in growth and self-discovery through dedication and resilience. As Jen shares, “I think they realize they really are becoming the moms they want to be and want to keep growing into that beyond our program.”