“My doctor told me I have to gain 35 pounds,” says the young woman peevishly as she opens the door for Mirian Lopez, a social worker. “I’m not gainin’ that much. I’m not gonna get fat.”
Lopez pulls out a form, “What I’d Like for My Child,” and explains, “This is about the dreams and goals you have for you and your baby. We’ll prioritize these goals and review them in six months to see what you’ve accomplished.” She reads through a list of 24 adjectives and asks which one Cheryl most wants her baby to be.
“Take vitamins. Watch what I eat.”
Lopez pauses again, then says, “What can you do now to help make your baby respectful?”
“It’s OK to talk to your baby,” says Lopez.
“That’d be fine.”
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The West Town Healthy Families Project is open to women pregnant for the first time and to first-time mothers whose children are under three months old; after that, behavioral patterns start to set and become harder to break. Because the maximum caseload for each of the three home visitors is 15, priority is given to families where a child is at higher risk of abuse. The staff have promised to stick with the families through the critical first five years of the child’s life.
