Child neglect, a form of child abuse, can be defined as not meeting a child’s needs in any of four areas: physical, medical, emotional, or educational. Yet, some of a child’s needs, like food and shelter, are more obvious than others.

Until babies come with instruction books, parenting skills need to be learned. Some learn from their parents or other family members. For those without the benefit of positive and knowledgeable role models, parenting can be especially frightening and overwhelming.

At 16, Leah was 8 months pregnant, feeling scared and alone. She lived with her grandmother, who worked full-time at night and her older sister who worked during the day. She’d never given much thought about her own future and knew nothing about caring for a baby. She had no money of her own, no job, no other place to live, and no one who knew how to help her.

Leah heard from a friend about Shelter’s Healthy Families home visitation program and found the courage to call. She was told the program was free, voluntary, and confidential, so she figured she had nothing to lose.

It’s been five years since Leah made that call, and her son Robbie is graduating from the Healthy Families program. It’s only as she looks back that Leah realizes how much she learned in those five years. Amber, her Healthy Families case worker, seems like a member of the family. Without her, Leah wouldn’t have learned the importance of swaddling and holding her baby, or the benefits of talking and reading to him. She might still be afraid of holding him as if he would break or wonder if it was normal for him to cry at night.

Amber taught her how to be comfortable playing with Robbie, even bringing toys for him, and how to quiet him when he was fussy. But Leah learned so much more. Through Amber, Leah found a medical home for her baby and was able to keep a schedule of his immunizations and well-baby visits. Leah learned about children’s developmental stages and was able to recognize Robbie needed help with his speech. Amber was there to refer her to professionals, and now Robbie is right on track developmentally.

Amber encouraged Leah to make personal goals, too, and helped her every with every step. At first she thought her dreams were out of reach, but Amber was right. Today Leah is earning her degree, working in a career she loves, and she and Robbie have their own home. Most importantly, Robbie is a happy, healthy five-year-old, in a safe and loving environment.

Every day, Shelter’s Healthy Families staff assist moms and dads with multiple challenges learn to be the parents they long to be, and to provide nurturing environments for their families. Sometimes, preventing child abuse and neglect is only a helping hand away.