Program helps 500 low-income parents
Ashlee Keating and her fiance, Emmanuel Carrillo, didn't make a lot of money and didn't know much about parenting when Keating became pregnant last year. They were worried about their unborn child's future. Thirteen weeks into her pregnancy, the 19-year-old high school dropout turned to the Kane Kares Nurse-Family Partnership.
The 7-year-old home-based health department program helps low-income, first-time parents learn about parenting, pursuing an education and getting their lives on track. A registered nurse regularly visits clients in their homes during the pregnancy and for up to two years after childbirth. Nurses help the women seek prenatal care, improve their diet and develop plans for finishing or continuing their education. They also involve the mother's family and friends to build a support system for her.
"It was nice to know I had a professional I could call 24 hours a day with any questions I had about Liliana," Keating said at this week's meeting of the county board's public health committee. "I would encourage any other new mom to be involved."
The national office of the Nurse-Family Partnership, based in Denver, recently honored Kane County for having enrolled more than 500 clients. The program launched in 2000 with 100 families and has since grown to two teams of visiting nurses, one based in Elgin and the other in Aurora.
In Kane County, the median age of clients is 17, the median annual income is $17,500 and 93 percent are unmarried.
Keating and Carrillo have come a long way since meeting Teresa Reyna, the couple's nurse case manager. On July 15 Keating gave birth to Liliana, a bouncing baby girl. She earned her GED and plans to attend Waubonsee Community College to purse a degree in childhood education so she can open her own day-care center.
"They are committed parents," Reyna said of the Aurora couple.
Garden closing: There are only two more days to buy fresh produce, plants and other locally grown products at the Kane County female inmate garden stand, which is scheduled to close for the season next week. The stand, which for many summers has offered items grown by select female inmates at the Kane County Jail, will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday just outside the sheriff's office, 777 E. Fabyan Parkway in Geneva.
The stand is closing earlier this year than in the past because it sustained major damage in last week's storms. Perennial plants, garlic, peppers, herbs, tomatoes and squash will be available.
Shady Hill Gardens, with locations in Batavia and Elburn, donated plants for the garden this year. University of Illinois Extension master gardeners educated the female inmates on gardening techniques.
Proceeds from sales at the garden stand benefit local charities. The 2006 proceeds were split among Elgin-based Community Crisis Center, Aurora-based Two Rivers Head Start and Batavia-based Valley Shelter workshop; each received $2,000.