Introducing HealthySteps at Associated Pediatricians

By: Kelly Gonzalez | HealthySteps Specialist at Associated Pediatricians

My name is Kelly Gonzalez, I have been a social worker for over 20 years, and I am so excited to be the first HealthySteps Specialist in the state of Indiana! The HealthySteps program will be located at Associated Pediatricians in Valparaiso, IN.

HealthySteps is a program of ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. The HealthySteps program encourages the health, well-being and school readiness of children from birth to three years old.

In the first three years of a child’s life, children are expected to have around 12 checkups. That gives a HealthySteps Specialist at least a dozen opportunities to touch base with the family and identify any needs for assistance through community, developmental, or behavioral resources. By using an interdisciplinary approach that pairs social workers with pediatricians, more needs and concerns are being addressed during a single visit.

I have found that some families are not aware of different resources that can help. Not only will I be informing families about available community resources – such as WIC, SNAP, or food pantries to help with food insecurity –I will also be following up to make sure they were able to connect with that resource. Additionally, improving health and well-being often depends on having access to the right resources. For example, the sooner we can identify a developmental delay, the sooner we can get the family in contact with proper intervention services. Receiving early services gives that child a chance to get individualized support to close gaps and continue to grow.

Research shows that how parents interact with their baby in the first three years of life can affect his or her future success. Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, so HealthySteps teaches parents to interact with their baby in ways that promote positive behavior. Limit unwanted challenges and utilize play and daily routines as opportunities to help their child learn. We want to promote strong bonding and want parents to enjoy being a parent.

My favorite part about being a social worker is hearing the impact stories. Being able to make a difference in the lives of others has always been my passion, and with this position, I am able to do just that. We are so excited to get the HealthySteps program started at Associated Pediatricians!