The Great Starts Program Overview

Proven to increase parents confidence level about upcoming birth and breastfeeding.

Achievement Rate Goal: 60% of participants will increase their knowledge/skills to meet the minimum outcome. (Participants include expectant mothers and their support partners. The partner is most often the father of the baby, but may also be a friend or family member.)

Outcome Goal: Outcome Goal: Participants will report at least a 10% average increase of knowledge.

Achievement Rate Results:

• 87% of expectant mothers and 92% of support partners reported an increase in knowledge of parental role and responsibilities.
• 92% of expectant mothers and 95% of support partners reported an increase in knowledge of age appropriate child development, needs, and behaviors.
• 93% of expectant mothers and 95% of support partners reported an increased ability to manage parenting duties and situations.
• 90% of expectant mothers and 95% of support partners reported that they had learned strategies that foster secure attachment and/or nurturing relationships.

Outcome Goal Results: In the chart below, lighter bars represent mothers, dark bars partners.

• Parental roles and responsibilities involved knowledge about making informed choices about available options for birth and parenting.
  
  
• Knowledge of child development and needs included understanding newborn capabilities/ behaviors and knowing when/how much to feed a baby.
  
  
• Ability to manage parenting duties/situations included confidence about birth, relaxation and coping skills, community resources, and managing breastfeeding challenges.
  
  
• Knowledge of secure, nurturing relationships included knowing how to respond to baby’s physical/emotional needs, and confidence about breastfeeding/support with breastfeeding.