Psychiatry department new site for program to help families at risk

The Children’s Trust Fund, an independent state agency whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect, is expanding its Nurturing Families Network program.

One of its new sites is the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn Health Center.

The Nurturing Families program offers parents a resource for care coordination and services, family development groups, and home-based support, particularly for teen parents and first-time parents.

“The goal of Nurturing Families is to provide services to women and families who may have risk factors like age, socio-economic disadvantages, or lack of social support,” says Karen Steinberg, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Health Center, who is managing the Nurturing Families program in Farmington.

The psychiatry department is providing referrals, family development, and other support services.

Families receiving services through the obstetrics and gynecology department, neonatal intensive care unit, newborn nursery, and pediatrics are eligible, as are members of the surrounding community.

“We will try to meet with every first-time mother to let her know about the available services, and see if she would be interested in or eligible for any of them,” Steinberg says.

The services include outreach and telephone support, prenatal and parenting groups, and home visiting services.

About the home visits, Steinberg says, “We can help parents read their baby’s cues and signals.”

Jennifer Vendetti, Nurturing Families coordinator in the psychiatry department, says, “the program offers an important and much-needed service here.”