The Positive Parenting Program run by the Accomack-Northampton Pregnancy Center helps expecting parents learn parenting skills and earn credits to purchase needed baby items. Parents watch DVD lessons on topics like prenatal care and earn "baby bucks" for attending sessions and appointments. The program allows parents like Lillie and Travis Stevens to learn advice and affordably shop in the Baby Boutique for clothing, cribs and other items using earned credits. The director hopes the program shows parents they can have a better life.

1. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:39 PM
Archives Desks Collections Journals Currently logged in as tshockley .
Filter: Menu
Search
Section Letter Byline Page Publication Section New search
B (2) Malissa Watterson (22) 1 (1) The Daily Times (4) ESN (12) Refresh
GREG MERRITT (1) 2 (1) Eastern Shore News (3) NEWS (6)
ENTERTAINMENT (3) Actions
Add to Collection
LIFESTYLE (2)
All results into Collection
BIRTHS & OBITUARIES (1) Create Collection
LOCAL NEWS - INSIDE (1) Find similar documents
Text Print Preview
Page 7 of 25 Archive: Daily Times Text - 25 documents found.
Full text: "Malissa Watterson"
- Saturday, June 5, 2010
City:
State:
Section: ESN
Page:
From:
Source:
Edition:
Publication:
Pregnancy Center program helps parents prepare
BELLE HAVEN -- One of the most important tasks for expecting parents is supporting and taking care of their
child before and after birth.
But for many expecting parents on the Eastern Shore, that task is hard to fulfill due to a lack of resources and
skills.
In April of this year, the Accomack-Northampton Pregnancy Center decided to address the needs of those
parents by starting its Positive Parenting Program.
This free program, which is associated with the national "Earn While You Learn Program," allows expecting
mothers and fathers to participate in parenting lessons where they can earn "baby bucks."
"Baby bucks" are credits that the parents can use to purchase clothes, toys, diapers and other items in the
center's Baby Boutique, a small room located in the same building.
Members of local churches donate all of the gently used baby items, as well as handmade blankets to the
boutique.
Linda Spence, executive director for the center, says that by earning the needed baby items the "parents learn
responsibility and independence."
In each learning session, parents sit down in a one-on-one setting with a center volunteer to watch the DVD
recorded lessons and discuss what they have learned.
The lessons cover numerous parenting topics, including prenatal care, newborn care, infant temperament and
reducing sudden infant death syndrome.
As parents watch the DVD, they complete a worksheet with fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions
about the particular lesson.
Parents are also assigned homework worksheets so the information can be further reinforced.
In addition to participating in the sessions and completing the worksheets, parents can earn "baby bucks" by
arriving to their session on time, referring friends to the program or regularly attending doctor appointments.
Diane Pierce, one of the center volunteers who facilitates learning sessions, finds joy in watching mothers being
"frivolous" as they shop in the Baby Boutique and choose items that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford.
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=7 Page 1 of 3

2. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:39 PM
Spence considers Pierce and the other center volunteers as mentors who provide a support system for the
parents.
"Volunteers develop a mentor relationship and let the parents know (the center) is a safe place for emotional
support and information," said Spence.
Pierce's first clients, Lillie and Travis Stevens, came to the center shortly after the program began and have
continuously participated in the sessions since then.
"I've really been involved with Lillie and Travis' progress, and helping them and watching them grow has been
very rewarding," said Pierce.
Last Tuesday, the Stevenses drove to the center to attend their weekly session.
Pierce immediately greeted the couple with a warm smile and a big hug. She also congratulated them after
hearing the news that they will be having a baby boy in October.
The couple's main reason for participating in the program was the affordable baby items that are offered.
"Travis was fired from his job around April, so we didn't have a lot of money," Lillie Stevens said. "We thought
(the program) was a good idea and it would be a big help."
Stevens also didn't have much prior experience with children, so she thought it would be beneficial if she
"learned advice ahead of time."
After showing their new ultrasound pictures, the couple walked with Pierce into Spence's office, where they hold
their weekly learning sessions.
The Stevenses both sat behind their own small, fold-up desk and watched a lesson about the third trimester,
Lillie's current stage of pregnancy.
The DVD featured interviews of mothers who gave real-life accounts of physical changes during the third
trimester. Doctors also described some of the common symptoms that occur at that time, including Braxton
Hicks contractions and pelvic area discomfort.
Once the lesson had finished, Pierce asked the Stevenses if they had any questions and then gave each of
them two "baby bucks" for arriving on time and completing the worksheets.
They walked down the hall to the Baby Boutique, where they looked through onesies, sweaters and other
clothing items.
While Travis Stevens shopped through the boutique, he mentioned how thrilled he was about the reasonable
prices.
"You go to a store and there a crib is over a hundred dollars, but here it's only 10 'baby bucks,' " he said. "It
definitely helps out."
In the near future, Spence is hoping to offer bilingual learning sessions for Hispanic parents in the community
and to build a classroom that is used specifically for the program.
Spence is also planning to create Positive Parenting Partners, local groups or organizations that can invest
financially in the program.
More than anything, Spence hopes that the program will show parents that "they can have a better life."
Parents who are interested in the Positive Parenting Program and would like to set up an appointment can call
the pregnancy center, at 757-442-4438 or stop by its location in the Belle Haven Colonial Square Plaza
Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Caption:Lillie and Travis Stevens, Eastern Shore residents, came to the Accomack-Northampton Pregnancy
Center shortly after the program began and have continuously participated in the Positive Parenting Program
sessions.
Malissa Watterson Photo
Element:
Graphic:
Image:
Resale: Yes
Keywords:
Subkeys: ESN01
Subject:
Day:
Book:
Byline: Malissa Watterson
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=7 Page 2 of 3

3. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:39 PM
Freekey:
Country:
DC3 Id:
This document has been viewed 1 times.
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=7 Page 3 of 3