Hospital Visit

Visiting new parents on the obstetric units where they deliver their babies has proven to be an effective way for Baby TALK to reach most every family in a geographic area.  A little research will reveal where each community's families go for obstetric services.  In Decatur, the volume of births makes it feasible to visit six days a week.  In smaller hospitals, a phoning/notification system establishes visits on an as needed basis.

Baby TALK teachers visit every family who delivers a baby in either of Decatur's hospitals during the mother's stay on the obstetric unit.  The teacher reports to the unit desk where she makes a list of all parents on the unit, then visits each family to promote four goals:

• To "join" families in the beginning.

• To discover babies together with parents.

• To learn of the family's needs.

• To tell about Baby TALK services and programs.

At every Baby TALK visit, the teacher connects with the family over their shared interest in the baby.  Parents then receive a variety of materials:

• a board book which they choose for their babies

• a Newborn handout, outlining newborn characteristics and opportunities

• Baby TALK's parent manual, Babies & Books:  A Joyous Beginning

• Baby TALK's CD, Those Baby Blues

• a Warmline magnet with our phone number, 475-BABY

• a current Baby TALK Times schedule

Parents are asked to fill out a parent information sheet, from which a computer file will be started on each family.  They are also told that someone from Baby TALK will be calling them in two-three weeks to check in, but that they can call us in the meantime if we can be of service to them.