Health 2 Home provides medical and development care to first-time mothers

Becoming a first-time parent can be exciting, stressful, and full of new challenges. For families who already have limited funds or are lacking a strong support system, that adjustment can be even more difficult. United Way Northwest Indiana is proud to partner with Goodwill of Michiana through the Nurse-Family Partnership to support parents through the Health 2 Home program, funded by First Things First Porter County.

“We are so honored to support this work being done by United Way and Nurse Family Partnership,” said Kasie Tenbarge, Associate Director of First Things First Porter County. “We know that when there is stress in the home due to unmet needs, it negatively affects babies, infants, toddlers and their families. By supporting the great work of our partners in the community, First Things First Porter County hopes to see reduced stress for families with young children and increase social-emotional support. That way, as a community, we can hopefully help break those cycles of generational trauma and generational poverty by having the most enriching environments possible for our youngest citizens.”

The Health 2 Home program provides essential support for first-time mothers in Porter County who are at or below 212% of the poverty level and enroll before their 29th week of pregnancy. Once enrolled, mothers receive continuous care and guidance from pregnancy until their child turns two.

Through the program, nurses from Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership provide medical and developmental assessments, pregnancy and postpartum screenings, health education, and advocacy. Meanwhile, United Way Northwest Indiana Navigator Jenna Buntin offers social-emotional support, career assistance, and referrals to community resources— together helping parents address the many challenges that come with raising a child.

“It’s really just a matter of what each individual needs and how I can be there to help them. I ask if she has any concerns that I can share with the nurses to keep them up to date. If she’s interested in a new job, we can work on resumes together. We can do interview questions and preparation. I’m here to help search for a job if that’s where they’re at,” Buntin said. “If she’s feeling overwhelmed, I’m there to listen. It’s about making sure she knows she has someone in her corner. We talk about her family, resources she might need, and how things are going with the baby. I’m that extra support for her.”

Buntin doesn’t keep traditional office hours, but she encourages mothers to reach out whenever they need help. Whether it’s a visit or a weekend text, she and the nurses stay in communication and document updates to ensure every mother receives coordinated, personalized care. This teamwork gives each mom two trusted people to lean on as she navigates early parenthood.

“The stress of not knowing how you’re going to pay for things, combined with learning how to be a parent for the first time, can be really damaging to families. The fact that we can bring two agencies and two incredible professionals together to address that family—to ensure that parents have coping skills and that they have access to resources—is going to make a big difference long term for these participating families,” said Erin Stojic, Nurse-Family Partnership Administrator.

Providing two consistent, familiar faces helps mothers feel comfortable reaching out when they need support. Over time, they form strong bonds with both their nurse and Buntin, creating a sense of trust and stability that encourages openness.

“As these ladies come in, they get this close bond with their nurses, and then they have this additional voice with Jenna,” said United Way Northwest Indiana Community Impact and Program Director Robin Wright. “Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help when we need it, and all of us are struggling. These moms are struggling, but they think they should have it together, and that is an unrealistic expectation that we all put on ourselves. Having those two voices together helps them remove shame when they do need to ask for help, so they seek that help a little more easily.”

To learn more about Health 2 Home and United Way Northwest Indiana, visit unitedwaynwi.org.