Early Childhood

Jordan Adams' nine-month-old son Chase is on the move. Crawling across the floor, he ignores the toys and instead gets into everything else. In other words, this baby boy is right on track.

His mom is too, with support from Lutheran Services in Iowa's (LSI) HOPES program.

At 18, Jordan learned she was pregnant. She and her boyfriend spent the summer after high school graduation learning about pregnancy and worrying about how to balance college, work and parenting.

"We had just graduated high school," Jordan said. "We didn't know how we'd be able to go to college and take care of him. I didn't know how I was going to handle it."

Then Jordan signed up with HOPES, an early childhood program that provides support and parenting resources for parents of children prenatal to age three.

Getting involved at a prenatal stage is ideal, said Alissa Burkamper, Jordan's LSI family support worker.

"A baby's health begins in the first few weeks after conception," said Alissa. "Parents learn about the risks involved in activities like smoking or alcohol consumption. Bonding begins prenatally with the mother and the father. The more the parents know about the baby and how developed the hands are or when the eyes see light, the more they bond with the baby."

Alissa and Jordan meet regularly to discuss parenting, healthy child development and community resources. Chase is now approaching his first birthday this winter. He likes to swing outside, and of course, loves to eat.

"Jordan's very attentive and loves to show me what new things Chase is doing when I come," said Alissa. "He's developing wonderfully."

HOPES helped her build her confidence, Jordan said, and gave her an outlet to ask questions.

"There were some things I didn't know what to look for, or what he should do at a certain age," she said. "Alissa taught me games to play with him, to interact with him and help him grow and learn."

Alissa, it turns out, was also able to give Jordan and Chase's father some valuable personal advice.

"I had my son when in college and fairly young," she said. "I finished my degree and raised him. I've been able to give them advice on financial aid and balancing work and school. It's nice to know someone else has been through it and says ‘You can do it, and you'll be really proud of yourself at the end."

Jordan can already be proud of herself. She will graduate Muscatine Community College next spring and plans to head onto a university for a business or accounting degree.  

"Alissa's very friendly and easy to talk to," Jordan said. "She gives good advice. This program has just been really helpful."

Help for a young family. Hope for a bright future.