‘Bright Start’ to Christmas brings holiday spirit to families

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society. 

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to come together and share love, hope and joy — and that’s just what Bright Start families did earlier this month.

The 15th annual Bright Start Christmas party at Central Church was the best-attended party to date. With financial support from Sioux Empire United Way, 66 Bright Start clients and their families participated in a handful of festive activities: having their photo taken with Santa, making a holiday craft and enjoying a Christmas feast from Tony’s Catering.

Expecting parents had the opportunity to make Christmas ornaments for their new babies.

Bright Start is one of many services Children’s Home Society offers to the community. The program is designed to help first-time expectant moms focus on their health and well-being, and help families create nurturing and healthy home environments. Nurse home visits for first-time moms can begin anytime between the beginning of pregnancy and two months after delivery. Once started, visits can continue up to the child’s second birthday.

“We get a chance to walk alongside our clients and help them with resources and education,” said Bright Start nurse home visitor Therese Marlette. “There’s so much information, and we try to help guide and empower our clients to make healthy choices for their lives and babies.”

First-time parents Michael and Anne Boucher attended the party with their 3-month-old son, Jammie.

“Our Bright Start nurse is Sam (Rupp), and she’s been great to work with,” Anne Boucher said. “Sam provided great information to us as first-time parents, and she’s been able to lead us in the right direction when we are unsure of something.”

At the party, Bright Start nurses like Rupp and Marlette engaged families in a few Christmas crafts. Expecting parents could make an ornament for their new babies, while families with children could do a footprint craft.

“Bright Start nurses and volunteers paint the child’s foot and stamp it on a canvas. Then the following week, Bright Start staff complete the artwork at our team meeting,” said Kathy Schneider, assistant program director of Bright Start. “This year’s footprint will be turned into a snowman!”

Bright Start volunteers paint the sole of 5-month-old Arianna’s foot while mother Deztany Zeigler holds her during the foot painting craft that was offered at the party.

Schneider said many clients enjoyed making the crafts at this year’s party. And while some children loved getting their feet painted, sugar cookies were the highlight for others.

“I think Liam’s favorite part of tonight is getting to eat the star cookies. He’s obsessed with stars and moons at the moment,” Rainy Decker said with a laugh. She enrolled in Bright Start shortly after she found out she was pregnant with her now 2-year-old son, Liam. This is their third and final Bright Start Christmas party because Liam will be graduating from the Bright Start program soon.

Amanda Tilberg (left) has been Rainy Decker’s Bright Start nurse since Rainy joined the program three years ago. This is Decker’s last Bright Start Christmas party because her son, Liam, will be graduating from the program soon.

“My favorite part of tonight is the footprint craft we do. I love to see the transformation of how he is growing,” Decker exclaimed. “With activities like this, you can tell the Bright Start nurses put so much time, effort and thought into everything they do.”

Strengthening relationships

Throughout her nine years, Schneider has seen the party grow into what it is today. Her favorite part of the Christmas party is watching her staff build close relationships with their clients.

“Having the opportunity to interact with clients outside of visits is so rewarding. For me, it’s very meaningful to see the relationship between each nurse and their clients strengthen — it never ceases to amaze me!” Schneider said. “The nurses pour their hearts into these families, often building a relationship that lasts for years past when a client leaves the Bright Start program.”

Tilberg knows first-hand the importance of relationship-building between the client and nurse. She began her Bright Start journey as a client 15 years ago. Tilberg and her baby thrived in the program, and her nurse left such a strong impact on her life that she dreamed about becoming a Bright Start Nurse some day.

Her dream became a reality in 2022 after she earned her degree and became a nurse practitioner in women’s health. “I felt like it was meant to be. I love what I do. I value the people that I get to work with, and they make me better too. Every day, I wake up and I’m excited to do my job. I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done.”

Bright Start nurse Therese Marlette (right) helped Reyna Carrizales and her 15-month-old daughter, Emily Julieta, with a footprint craft at the 15th annual Bright Start Christmas party.

The next generation

Being able to help other people in a position that she was in once herself has become a highlight of Tilberg’s career — a moment she describes as “coming full circle.” This year’s Christmas party was extra special for Tilberg as her daughter, Olivia — whom she was pregnant with when she was a Bright Start client — was also in attendance as a volunteer. Olivia spent her evening helping her mom and other Bright Start nurses with translating Spanish for clients whose first language was not English.

Bright Start nurse Amanda Tilberg’s daughter, Olivia (left) volunteered time to practice her Spanish by interpreting for clients and Bright Start nurses.

“I never want anyone to feel left out because they might not speak the same language or their culture might be different. I want to be as inclusive as we can in all things,” Tilberg said. “I love that my daughter enjoys immersing herself in my world and that she has been able to use her talents and skills to help bring people together.”

Marlette’s daughter, Corissa, also volunteered her time as a Spanish interpreter. Corissa is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and helps her mom when she can because “I don’t get a lot of classroom experience anymore,” she said. “I take whatever opportunity I can get to practice — whether it’s at my job or if I can help translate for my mother, I really enjoy it!”

As Corissa was helping her mom tidy up the craft room, one of Marlette’s clients, Reyna Carrizales, brought in her 15-month-old daughter for foot painting. After exchanging excited greetings with each other, Corissa jumped in and started interpreting for Marlette while they painted little Emily Julieta’s toes.

“I love being able to see firsthand what my mom does. Being able to help out is cool, and it brings up my mood,” Corissa said. “I feel a difference in myself, and I can feel the difference in the people that I speak Spanish with — their whole character brightens, they relax, and you can tell they feel more comfortable, which just makes it that much more rewarding for me.”

Corissa Marlette (left) interpreted Spanish for Bright Start nurses, including her mom, Therese.

To put on a party this size takes a lot of work and effort from many people. Most of the volunteers who help at the Christmas party are family and friends of the Bright Start staff, but that hasn’t always been the case. When Schneider first started, volunteers were requested through the 211 Helpline, but now it’s no longer needed. All her staff now volunteer their time and enjoy strengthening their relationships with clients outside of the job.

“We truly care about the families we serve,” Schneider said. “We appreciate the opportunity to walk with them as they begin their journey in parenthood, and we are honored to host this event for them.”

For Liam’s mom, the party sparked reflections on the past three years and a sense of gratitude.

“I don’t know where we would be without Bright Start because it’s helped in so many different ways. I’m trying hard not to think about this being our last year,” Decker said. “It’s really helpful to have Amanda in my corner. She’s not just my Bright Start nurse — she’s my mentor, my counselor, my friend. She’s everything.”