Tiny Touch: 10 year program offers advice to young mothers

EAST PRAIRIE -- For new mother Brittany Helms, having the Tiny Touch program available to her is making all the difference when it comes to caring for her 1-month-old son, Carson.

The 18-year-old high school senior from East Prairie enrolled in the program offered through the Mississippi County Health Department shortly after learning she was pregnant. Since then, she's received monthly visits from a licensed practical nurse and family support worker who brings educational materials and answers any questions she has at any time of the day.

And even though her own mother who is a nurse offers her support, sometimes it's easier to talk somebody besides mom, Helms said.

"I also think it helps to know you have reassurance you're doing something right," Helms said about the program.

Now in its 10th year, Tiny Touch aims to offer support and education to new parents -- prenatal, at birth and in the months and years to come.

It assesses health strengths and needs of families to help improve parenting skills, reduce family stress, promote healthy growth and development of the child and meet all support needs to give the child the best possible start.

"We get referrals through our WIC department, from Division of Family Services office and Parents as Teachers in the schools. We take pregnant women, normally first-time moms and teen mothers," said Victoria Cade, a licensed practical nurse and family support worker for Tiny Touch.

Monthly visits are conducted before the baby is born and until the child is 3 years old. Visits usually last between 30 minutes and an hour and can be made after school, after business hours and on Saturdays, Cade said.

"There is no age requirement," she said. "We've had mothers as young as 13 and into their 30s."

The program is free, too.

"You don't have to have any qualifications and don't have to be enrolled in WIC but there are certain income guidelines," Cade said.

Currently, 20 families are enrolled in the program but the budget allows for 25, Cade said.

"Many of these parents don't have anything," she said."I'm hoping to get a grant to provide each one with a bed instead of them having to put them in the bed with them."

The health department is applying for grants to get car seats and cribs for mothers who need them, Cade said.

Some mothers also face housing and transportation issues, Cade said.

"We want to break that barrier with the information they need and educate them," Cade said.

Common issues new mothers have are knowing the signs of a sick baby, taking a baby's temperature, problems with formula and feeding, knowing how to burp a baby right or not keeping them warm enough or keeping them too warm, Cade said.

"A lot of the younger mothers are scared," Cade said. "You can see a difference in the mothers, especially with the ones not wanting to open up and talk. A few visits later, they're talking more and feel comfortable."

Helms agreed.

"I like talking (with Cade) because it's an adult feeling," Helms said.

Among issues Helms has sought advice about are formula use and a lack of bowel movements by her baby. She said she's received boxes full of educational information that were useful.

For Cade, who became a mother at 18, teen parenting is an issue that's close to her, and she wants to use her experience to reach today's young mothers.

"I feel like I can help them understand being a mother is not making your life end," Cade said. "It's just beginning another part," said Cade.

For more information about Tiny Touch, contact the Mississippi County Health Department at 683-2191 or 649-5502.