Nurturing Healthy Children Through Family Wellness

In terms of our children’s health, lots of factors have an impact. But perhaps the most important factor is the overall wellness of our families. To provide the best environment for our children, we need to make sure that our family unit is as healthy as possible.

Family wellness is determined not only by our physical health (through nutrition, doctors’ visits, exercise, etc.), but also by our emotional health, the relationships we enjoy, and our interconnectedness to our community.

The Importance of a Healthy Start from Day One

The early months and years are so important in child development. Every parent needs all the support he or she can get during this period to raise healthy and happy children and give them the best chance of lifelong success.

But knowing where to turn is often not so easy. That is why local and state partners have joined together to help you access the information and services every parent needs.

 

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PHYSICAL HEALTH

Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviors including adequate exercise, proper nutrition and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It means  getting regular medical checkups and protecting yourself from injuries and harm.  A healthy lifestyle can bring a sense of well-being and help keep your body strong.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

How a child thrives over time is directly dependent on the quality of human relationships enjoyed during those early years. Parents, caregivers, and teachers have the opportunity to take advantage of this critical period of growth by providing nurturing, responsive, positive, and predictable relationships through their words, gestures, and actions.

Additional Reading & Resources

Text4baby

Text4baby is a free service that helps pregnant and new moms get important information. Women who text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 receive free text messages three times per week, timed to their due date or their baby’s birth date, through pregnancy and up until the baby’s first birthday. Text4baby sends personalized messages directly to you, and the texts have information you can trust because they are developed by experts from all over the country. There is also an app that provides additional information about baby’s development, pregnancy, childcare tips, and more.

Milestone Tracker Mobile App

Milestones matter! Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.

Kids Mental Health Info

This website was developed to help parents and caregivers understand their child’s mental health issues. The site offers videos and training for early care and education providers and pediatric providers. The website also offers both local and national resources as well as links to publications, facts and figures and frequently asked questions.

Vroom

Vroom turns shared moments into brain building moments. Whether it’s mealtime, bathtime, or anytime in between, there are always ways to nurture our children’s growing minds.


Mobile Crisis Intervention Services

Mobile Crisis Intervention Services serves children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis. It can help youth avoid the negative consequences that can result from mental health crises (such as juvenile arrests) by calling 2-1-1 for both immediate and ongoing support. By dialing 2-1-1 and, when prompted, pressing ‘1’ for ‘crisis’, and then “1” again for “Mobile Crisis” police can gain access to Mobile Crisis’ 14 teams of nearly 150 trained mental health professionals across the state that can respond immediately, face-to-face or by phone, to help manage the child’s behavioral or emotional crisis.

Take a Screening
If you are concerned about yourself or someone you love, take a few minutes to complete an anonymous self-assessment.

 

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