Bright Start holiday party showcases program success

This piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

At the 16th annual Bright Start client Christmas party, attendees celebrated the season — along with their own remarkable successes.

The Children’s Home Society Bright Start team hosts a celebration each year, bringing holiday cheer to clients and their families. It’s just another way Bright Start demonstrates its deep commitment to supporting new moms and their children.

Bright Start, which serves hundreds of families annually in every South Dakota county, is a nurse home visiting program of the South Dakota Department of Health. Children’s Home Society operates Bright Start in partnership with the state in South Dakota’s southeastern corner.

This free, voluntary program supports expectant, first-time mothers by connecting them with a nurse until their child turns 2. Nurses make home visits, perform prenatal, maternal and infant health assessments; provide health, safety and nutrition education; parenting education; and much more. In addition, nurses link families to resources throughout the community to help with a wide range of needs.

At the party, families enjoyed festive activities, including photos with Santa, a Christmas feast, ornament-making and playing with toys from the Toy Lending Library of South Dakota.

Before heading home, each family received a special Christmas gift from the Bright Start team.

This year’s party, held at First United Methodist Church, welcomed 61 clients and their families.

Assistant program director Kathy Schneider said the success of the event reflected the heart of the entire team.

“Watching our nurses, our administrative assistant, our therapist and even their family members come together with so much heart is inspiring,” Schneider said.

“Seeing families light up when they see their nurse, and children creating crafts with their parents — it’s all beautiful.”

Nurse family partnership model shines

Thirty years of studies have shown that the nurse family partnership model of nursing results in consistent and dramatic benefits for first-time mothers and their children.

NFP focuses on accomplishing three goals:

1. Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in preventative health practices, including obtaining thorough prenatal care from their health care providers, improving their diet and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances.
2. Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care for their children.
3. Improve economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies and continue their education.

“This type of nursing care is unique in that we can come alongside new moms as a support, as a confidante, as a teacher and as a cheerleader,” said Kristy Hazel, CHS Bright Start nurse.

“We listen to their concerns and fears about becoming a parent and about life in general. We discuss their dreams for the future and guide them on how they can reach those goals,” she said.

When new parents have the resources and support they need to raise happy, healthy children, they are better equipped to break cycles of trauma, poverty and poor health. By addressing the needs of the family as a whole — both parent and child together — the NFP serves two generations at once and makes an impact that lasts long into the family’s future.

Strong relationships help build strong families

Bright Start works because of the strong relationship between nurses and clients. Nurses meet the family where they are in life and become a trusted resource.

Nurse home visitor Amanda Tilberg said she values every relationship she builds. “Honestly, every day I feel blessed,” Tilberg said. “I love my clients. I feel like they’re all meant for me.”

For many families, Bright Start has been a source of guidance and reassurance. Giselle Wilbur joined the program early in her pregnancy. She said the support she has received from Tilberg and the Bright Start program has been life-changing.

“I had no idea how to be a mom, but we’re getting there now,” Wilbur said. “Every time Amanda comes over, she answers every question. She even checks on me when we’re not scheduled.”

Another of Tilberg’s clients, Brianna Kvernevig, describes their relationship as both practical and personal.

“I feel like I always have somebody I can reach out to and ask questions. If I need anything — support or resources — she’s there. It’s kind of like a built-in best friend.”

Recently, Kvernevig graduated from Southeast Technical College with a licensed practical nurse degree. Before graduation, she participated in a special pinning ceremony marking the transition from student to nurse. Faculty or family typically pin the student, but Kvernevig asked Tilberg to do the honor instead.

“You always hope that what you do matters,” Tilberg said. “I started with Brianna the day she delivered, and since then, she joined the LPN program, graduated and is going to attend RN school next. To know I made a difference — and to watch her come full circle — is an honor.”

The bond between Tilberg and her clients reflects the heart of Bright Start’s mission: walking alongside families as they grow.

Twenty-five years of positive impact

The state Department of Health noted the 25th anniversary of the Bright Start program earlier this year. And in November, the department released new data showing the positive impact of the program for participating families.

Key outcome highlights include:

• Well-child visits at 15 months: 72.3 percent of Bright Start children received the recommended number of well-child visits, compared with 44.9 percent of Medicaid children statewide.
• Well-child visits at 30 months: 88.9 percent of Bright Start children continued routine well-child visits after the program ended, compared with 50.9 percent of Medicaid children statewide.
• Childhood lead screening: 63.3 percent of Bright Start children received lead screenings by age 2, compared with 32.3 percent in the Medicaid population.

For new moms and families, children and communities statewide, Bright Start is really something to celebrate.

To learn more about Bright Start, please visit chssd.org/nurse-family-partnership or doh.sd.gov/programs/bright-start.