The Nurture® Program: A Text-Based Parent Mentor Support Program for New and Expecting Parents

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

The earlier children receive support for their social-emotional development, the more likely they are to be successful in school and beyond. The Nurture® Program aims to increase parental confidence, leading to positive parent-child relationships that support children’s social-emotional development.

The Nurture® Program was developed by NurturePA in Pittsburgh and trains experienced parents as mentors who support new parents via a secure text messaging platform. This format provides equity, accessibility, and confidentiality. The mentors text weekly to provide encouragement and support, parent-infant bonding activities, child development information, and links to local resources. The parents can text their mentors with questions, concerns, or to get additional information.

In 2019, Committee for Children (CFC) expanded beyond its universal classroom social-emotional learning interventions to support younger children (0-3years). CFC recognized the transition to parenthood as a challenge to a person’s social and emotional development and the importance of children’s first three years of life, and embraced the Nurture® model as a way to support parents in this transition and to help them to support children’s social and emotional development. NurturePA and CFC have formed a partnership to deliver this service to families in the Pittsburgh and Seattle areas and collect data on its success. The round table will address the origins of NurturePA, the development of Nurture® Seattle and the opportunities and challenges presented by COVID-19.

Organizers: Sherri Widen, Jennifer Duval
Participants: Sherri Widen, Jennifer Duval, Beth Graves, Phil Keys, Kate Brennan

Sub Unit

• Family Context & Processes

Moderator

• Sherri C Widen, Committee for Children

Panelists

• Jennifer Duval, Committee for Children

• Beth Graves, Committee for Children

• Valerie Keys, Other

• Kate Brennan, NurturePA