Removing the Veil

Bail outs, stimulus plans, and budgets...Oh my!

I must say I was pleased to see the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a high priority in President Obama's 2010 budget. I'm sure others would be quick to ask for an ROI on that one.

$5.70 to $1.00

That is the ratio of favorable economic return to communities for every public dollar spent on the Nurse-Family Partnership.

Why is it that we so often need to see issues in terms of dollars and cents in order to care? Obviously, tangible and quantitative measures serve a practical purpose when it comes to budgets, ROI, etc. Yet I can never understand why we so often overlook the human factor. Even when it comes to the current economic crisis, AIG bonuses, and stimulus funds, we seem to think of the people behind the numbers just a little too late.

One of the greatest challenges with programs like the NFP is connecting with the individuals who need these services. Poverty is often a faceless affliction. It coexists with a multitude of interwoven factors, such as social isolation, joblessness, lack of education, lack of healthcare, homelessness, language barriers, and more.

22,000 versus 650,000

That is the number of families NFP serves annually versus the estimated number of eligible first-time mothers in the U.S. that would benefit from the program. It is more than justifying the "dollars and cents" to the public. It's about removing the veil over poverty. It's about the human factor.


About Nurse-Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office (www.nursefamilypartnership.org) is committed to producing enduring improvements in the health and well being of low-income, first-time parents and their children by helping communities implement and sustain an evidence-based program of home visiting by registered nurses. It is the most rigorously tested program of its kind. Randomized, controlled trials conducted over 30 years demonstrate multi-generational outcomes that benefit society economically and reduce long-term social service expenditures. Nurse-Family Partnership is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Spread the Love

Love Bug Mission: Build a movement to support mothers in need and make each newborn's introduction to the world one complete with basic necessities that promote safety and well-being.

As a fledgling program, Love Bug Bundles is still forging new relationships and creating partnerships to make our mission a reality. Please spread the word to your family and friends. Invite them to follow this Blog to learn more and receive updates!!

At this time, Love Bug Bundles is entirely funded through personal funds and private donations. We would greatly benefit from any type of support, including:
· monetary donations
· newborn items
· postpartum and breastfeeding items
· product samples
· translated brochures and literature

Begin to Understand

We can imagine the needs of others and imagine the cause. Imagine blame. We can even imagine a solution. However, not until you take time to listen to those in need and witness their humanity can you truly begin to understand.

Last week, I participated in my first two baby showers (Lee High School and Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón) with the Community Doula Program of the Healthy Family Initiatives. The generosity of family and friends helped make it possible to give 27 Love Bug Bundles, 24 postpartum items, and six door prizes to expectant mothers in need. The March baby shower bundles included:

· 1 receiving blanket
· 1 newborn or three-month outfit
· 1 bib or 1 hat
· 1 pair of socks or 2 wash cloths

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Shoot for the moon...Even if you miss, you'll land among stars.

-Brian Littrell

International Women's Day: March 8

Often the greatest societal and multi-generational change comes through women helping women.

One woman who is doing just that in Houston is Marisa Pena-Alfaro, program director of the Community Doula Program at the Healthy Family Initiatives. Her passion is empowering teenage and low-income mothers to overcome the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood. She not only equips these young women with information about their health, bodies, pregnancy, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and infants, but she also promises to be a source of support. She takes phone calls 24/7.

The primary goal of the Community Doula Program is to prevent poor health outcomes for mothers and infants. The following figures summarize the services and outcomes for 2008:
· 175 pregnant mothers were served
· 56% were teenagers
· 71.2% prenatal sessions were completed
· 1,620 individual telephone support calls were completed
· 96.8% mothers carried pregnancy full term (87.5% national rate, March of Dimes)
· 80% mothers delivered infants vaginally (68.9% national rate, NCHS)
· 97% mothers delivered healthy weight infants (92% national rate, NCHS)
· 81% infants breastfed for at least 6 months (13% national rate, AAP)

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First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day honors the economic, social, and political achievements of women throughout the world.

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
http://www.care.org/
http://www.apowerfulnoise.org/

Welcome to the Love Bug Bundles Blog!

On March 6, 2008, I founded Love Bug Bundles to provide Houston mothers in need baby and postpartum essentials to promote the well-being of their growing families. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of this project, and I am humbled and thrilled that it is growing more than ever.

As a new mother myself, I know the time surrounding pregnancy and childbirth represents one of the most vulnerable yet rewarding periods in a woman’s life. Ensuring her physical and mental well-being helps ensure the well-being of each newborn baby. No matter the circumstances of her pregnancy and delivery, every mother deserves compassion and support.

Love Bug’s goal is to help low-income mothers access education, support, and basic necessities to ensure the safety and well-being of their children. Research proves the benefit of preventative programs that offer at-risk mothers a continuum of support. Although numerous organizations assist mothers with prenatal care, few focus on the critical postpartum weeks during which the mother child bond should be well guarded.

In collaboration with the Healthy Family Initiatives, we collect baby items and deliver them to Houston families who really need them. Donated items include new and gently used baby essentials, such as: clothing, receiving blankets, bath tubs, toys, pacifiers, diapers, baby wipes, wash cloths, and childproofing items. Today, the organization serves families in prenatal programs at the Spring Branch Family Development Center, the Magnolia Clinic of El Centro de Corazón, and Lee High School. In the future, we aim to serve families in a broader network of social agencies, including public clinics and family development centers, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and early education programs.

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In Texas, 25% of children live in poverty.
In Texas, 1 in 10 children lives in extreme poverty.

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In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.

Mother Teresa