New parent support line offers help to C.O. families
Heart to Heart is an an all-new, unique support program that provides free text, phone, and email support to Central Oregon parents of children birth to 5.
Parents can call and talk to a trained parent volunteer for “in the moment” parent support or help connecting a referral.
It takes a village, and Heart to Heart helps connect that village! Heart to Heart is currently seeking parent volunteers to help support this wonderful program. Volunteers have the flexibility to offer support from home, or wherever they are as long as they have cell phone service.
A commitment of three hours a week and experience as a parent (in any capacity) is all that is needed to make a difference in the lives of local families.
As a former school teacher and a parent herself, Heart to Heart founder Sarah Guilfoy understands how important it is to have a parent support line.
“Parents would often reach out to me at 9 at night as a teacher, with questions about their child or how to best help them, and I realized that this was a service that was missing from our community,” she said.
Additionally, Sarah understands from firsthand experience the kinds of stress parents can feel.
“Raising a child, I often felt alone and wondered if I was doing things right,” she said.
Parents can now reach out to Heart to Heart, knowing they will have the empathetic listening ear, the support, and the referrals they need. The 24-hour support line number is 541-322-2019 – learn more at https://myhb.org/heart-to-heart/.
Healthy Beginnings Director Diane Murray-Fleck is excited about this partnership, saying, “We know that the first five years are critical to both children and families. The collaboration of Healthy Beginnings and Heart to Heart will help to create a sense of community and belonging in raising the next generation of Oregonians.”
Heart to Heart is a program partner of Healthy Beginnings. Visit www.myhb.org to learn more, or email heart2heart@hdesd.org. Healthy Beginnings is a 21 Cares for Kids partner.
About Heart to Heart Heart
to Heart is a parent support line offering phone, text, and email support to parents of children 0 -5. Heart to Heart is a program partner of Healthy Beginnings. For nearly 23 years, Healthy Beginnings (HB) has provided Central Oregon families with accessible, free health and developmental screenings for children from birth to five years old. The organization also provides referrals to appropriate community agencies, follow-up services, information and support.
The purpose of this program is to provide accessible, preventative screenings to confirm the well-being of children and/or to identify and refer concerns in the areas of health, development, and behavior. Since its inception, Healthy Beginnings has provided these services at no cost to families and currently offers screening clinics throughout Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.
