Every month, we feature a United Way Partner Agency’s client experience, demonstrating the impact that donations to United Way of Sheboygan County are making. This month’s client experience was submitted by Susan Crisp, connections coordinator at Family Connections. Here’s their story:

“Judy* started in the program in September 2014. When I first met Judy she was very discouraged and tearful about her situation of part-time job and expensive child care. Judy eventually came off W-2 and found a child-care program that she felt was a right fit for both she and her children. We invite the families to attend two Connections' Program Family Fun Nights during the year. Judy attended the Holidays Make & Take with her two younger children. Judy said at the end of the evening “Thank you so much for inviting us, we had so much fun”.

“I did a home visit with Judy and her two young children as it was difficult to take both children out for a Care Management appointment. We discussed age-appropriate milestones in child-development. We considered activities that she could do with the children that would enable the children to reach their age-appropriate potential. As a Certified Parents as Teacher Parent Educator, we used Parents as Teachers research based child development information. We discussed this Parents as Teachers (PAT) child development and looked at the present age-level that each child was at for development. Our next step would be instructing Judy on how to use the Ages and Stages Questionnaire to screen her child. We discussed activities that Judy could do to enhance their learning. 

“We discussed the importance of literacy in her children's development and I gave Judy a PAT book about Infant/Toddler’s Songs & Nursery Rhymes. The four of us sang and acted out Nursery Rhymes with the children. The children loved this activity. Judy loved being able to do these activities and as she informed me later, she still uses the book to sing songs and rhymes with the children. The children are older now and Judy told me that her three year old daughter comes home from school singing songs and teaches them to her younger brother. This is the modeling and outcome that helps the next generation. Judy says it is lovely to hear her children playing well together and singing songs. Judy still uses the songs and rhyme PAT (Parents's as Teachers) children’s books to sing and say rhymes with her two children. She now better understands how she can greatly influence their development and that she is their first and most important teacher.

“Judy now maintains her full time job. Her 13 year old daughter is on the honor roll and does well in school. Judy says she likes where she is now in her life.”

*Name has been changed.