Sometimes, a Boys Town program that's designed to help a child turns out to be a blessing for the whole family.
That was the case when Margot and her 3-year-old daughter Delilah started the Boys Town South Florida Parent-Child Home Program.
In the program, Home Visitors work with parents of 2- and 3-year-olds, focusing on language and pre-literacy skills, and positive parent-child interactions. Using specially selected books and educational toys and activities, Home Visitors help parents understand that they are their children's first and most important teacher, and show them how to generate enthusiasm for learning in their children. Home Visitors also role model for parents how to appropriately use the program materials with children to promote verbal interactions, parent-child bonding and school readiness. Each program year has 23 weeks of home visits and 46 total visits. Research has shown that families benefit the most by spending at least 18 months in the program, which is free to parents.
When Margot and Delilah started seeing their Home Visitor, Margo often would share her personal problems. Although it was great that Margot felt comfortable confiding in someone, the Home Visitor had to work to maintain boundaries; Home Visitors are not therapists and have a set purpose for every visit. So the Home Visitor set aside time at the end of every visit to listen to Margot and encouraged her to seek professional help. This strategy was successful in that it helped a mom maintain her sanity during a difficult time in her life and also encouraged her to spend quality time with her daughter.
By the end of the first program year, Delilah and her mother had developed a very special bond and the toddler had learned all of the basic concepts taught by the Home Visitor.
Unfortunately, Margot's personal problems were overwhelming and she fell into depression. During the home visits, she spent most of the time crying, making it necessary for other family members to sit in for her. This affected Delilah, who also became sad and wasn't able to concentrate on the Home Visitor's teaching. The Home Visitor finally confronted Margot about how her actions were negatively affecting Delilah. Margot realized then that she needed to deal with her personal issues through professional help and be a strong, positive parent for her children.
From that point forward, Margot made a conscious effort to stay in good spirits in front of Delilah and her other children. By the end of the second program year, the family had found a great support system and Margot was successfully dealing with her issues through therapy.
Delilah recently graduated from the program and continues to thrive both academically and in her relationship with her mom. And Margot sees the support she received from the Home Visitor as a blessing to her whole family and a constant reminder of the importance of spending quality time with her children.
The Parent-Child Home Program is supported by the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County and Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, a special district created by Palm Beach County voters that provides leadership, funding and research on behalf of the county's children so they grow up healthy, safe and strong.
The stories provided about the children and families in our care are real. In some cases, names may be changed and details altered to protect their privacy and therapeutic interests.
