Lindsay (left) and Julie

ECS welcomes Julie Tucker-Sullivan and Lindsay Meyer to the StartStrong  staff. They joined StartStrong earlier this Spring.

 

Julie, a Nebraska native, has lived in Cincinnati since her freshman year at UC. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology, she began her career in mental health, for many years working in the community setting. In 2014 she worked at Cincinnati Children's as a mental health specialist.

 

Julie says her background in mental health allows her to connect with different types of people and accept them for who they are. "I'm excited to start meeting with moms in Price Hill, and putting them in touch with different services that might help them be more successful," Julie says. "I want to help them overcome barriers, whether that means educating them about good nutrition or helping them discover new parenting strategies."

 

Julie's caseload is sure to include Spanish speakers, and she admits to being a little rusty (don't tell her high school Spanish teacher!) She is brushing up with the help of Duolingo, which offers free online language instruction.

 

Julie and her husband, Chris, grounds manager at Spring Grove Cemetery, have three teenagers. They enjoy live concerts-this summer, the couple is going to Chicago with friends for the Grateful Dead's 50th reunion concert!

 

Lindsay Meyer taught preschool for the last five years. But in August 2015, she and her husband, Tony, experienced a major life event: they adopted a newborn! After returning home from Mississippi with baby Caleb, she took several months off to care for him. When the time came to return to the workforce, Lindsay learned about the position with StartStrong from a friend, and the rest is history.

 

"I loved being in the preschool setting, but it didn't give me an opportunity to focus on different family situations like being a home visitor does," she says. "I shadowed two StartStrong home visitors in Avondale during my first couple of weeks on staff, and it was so refreshing to meet mom and baby in the home. I am really excited to dive in, get more referrals and work with families!"

 

Lindsay comes to StartStrong with some experience working with at-risk families. For many years, she has volunteered with the Independence School District in Covington, Ky., where her mother is an elementary school principal.

 

Lindsay is from Cincinnati and attended the School for the Creative and Performing Arts before going to the University of Louisville to earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She speaks fluent French, thanks to spending a high school semester in France.

 

Tony is an auto body specialist and enjoys fixing up cars. The Meyers spends their diminishing free time at car shows and family get-togethers.

Please tell families to ignore the April 24 due date for the client satisfaction surveys ... there is no deadline for submission. Thank you!

 

Welcome to new home visitors Lyndsay Brown (BA) and Jasma Warner (SM).

 

Congratulations to the following ECS staff celebrating anniversaries in April. 16 years: Lois Bradford (STE), Judy Brown (BC), Margaret Clark (ECS); 14 years: Connie Wolfe (YF); 12 years: Valerie Calloway (YF); 8 years: DeeAnn Pennington (ECS), Heidi Sullivan (LPS); 7 years: Catherine Jarvis (BA), Maria Tenjo (BC), Sarah Barnett (BCESC); 3 years: Lauren Dankhoff (BCESC), Erica Thomas (BCESC); and 1 year: Michelle Woods (BC). Many thanks for all the good work you do!

 

A fond farewell to nurse home visitor Cathea Poland (STE), who is retiring after 10? years with the ECS team at STE.

Congratulations to BCESC home visitor Stacie Miller and her family, who adopted Alana Joy, born April 4.

 

Let your families know about these upcoming community events, which will feature fun activities for children, healthy snacks, important health information - and the opportunity to win prizes! Both are sponsored by UnitedHealthcare.

• Community Baby Shower on May 2 from noon to 3 p.m. Location: Riverview East Health Center, 3555 Kellogg Ave. Questions? Call 513-363-3476

• Community Health Fair on May 16 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Wesley Education Center, 525 Hale Ave. RSVP: 513-754-1724

In case you missed it... On April 14, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate. This bill includes a two-year extension of the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program! The vote was 92-8, and the bill is now headed to President Obama to be signed into law. Children's Home is the provider for the ECS MIECHV program, serving 50 non-first-time moms.

 

Let your high school-aged moms know that they can take a three-credit class this summer through Cincinnati State Technical Community College's new "3 and a Book" program. The offer comes with a free textbook and a waiver for any fees, up to a total value of $650 per participant. It's open to high school students, including incoming freshman and 2015 graduates. Students must live in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont or Warren County. Fourteen-week sessions begin May 11; a 10-week session begins June 1. Click HERE or more information or call 513-569-1640.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF both recommend that for optimal infant health, babies begin breastfeeding within one hour of birth and through the first two years of life (PAT Nutrition and Breastfeeding Curriculum). Encourage your moms to place the baby skin-to-skin frequently. This has been shown to not only calm the baby and increase bonding and attachment, but also to encourage the baby to latch and initiate breastfeeding. Many of our local hospitals have practices to support skin-to-skin as soon as mom and baby are medically stable.

 

Do you have a successful strategy or tip that you would like to share with others?  Contact Julie Massie.