St. Joseph has adopted the Institute of Medicine’s definition of children’s health: the extent to which individual children or groups of children are able or enabled to:
1) develop and realize their potential;
2) satisfy their needs; and
3) develop the capacities that allow them to interact successfully with their biological, physical and social environments.
We have 3 main programs that will enable us to achieve our Goal of ensuring children reach kindergarten with the health and family support necessary to support learning:
Change the first five years and you change everything. The St. Joseph Home Visiting Program utilizes the First Born® Program model and provides support and education to first time mothers during pregnancy and through the first 3 years of their baby’s life. We know that parents want the very best future for their children and this program provides resources to help parents achieve their dreams for their child. First Born is an evidence-based program with proven outcomes.
Change the first five years and you change everything. The St. Joseph Referral Program works with parents on challenges they face as a family with a new baby. These challenges might include housing, employment, access to medical care, education, and quality day care, among others. Supporting the family in obtaining needed resources strengthens a safe and nurturing environment for their baby.
Change the first five years and you change everything. At every level, our Advocacy efforts are focused on establishing early childhood development as a top priority in New Mexico. We need policies that support families in their important role in child development. Policy initiatives that promote supportive relationships and rich learning opportunities for young children create a strong foundation for higher school achievement, followed by greater productivity in the workplace and solid citizenship in the community. We need funding that supports basic health and early childhood programs that monitor the development of all children so that problems that require attention can be identified and addressed in a timely fashion. Child development is a foundation for community and economic development.
We invite your participation in this important work – join St. Joseph in making a difference in the lives of our children and our community.