United Way program seeks volunteers with parenting background

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    By Lindsey Hicks

    Parenting skills are in demand at the United Way of Utah for the Success by 6 Welcome Baby program.

    The Health Department and the United Way of Utah County Success by 6 Welcome Baby program are correlating forces to fulfill the goal to help all children achieve or receive the things they need in order to have a successful start by the age of six, said Stacie Gruwell, training coordinator for the Welcome Baby program.

    “Becoming a new parent can be a wonderful yet overwhelming experience, packed full of emotions, questions and concerns,” said Sherral Burrup, Welcome Baby volunteer coordinator.

    Volunteers of the program can take in support, developmental issues, and resources in the community to help new parents get started on the right foot, Burrup said.

    The qualifications for these volunteers are to be an actual parent, grandparent, have experience in the health care field as a provider or have some type of child-care experience, Gruwell said.

    The ages of volunteers range from college-aged students to mothers and grandmothers who are looking to donate time, Gruwell said.

    Training and personal experience can help parents with questions and concerns about being a new parent.

    “This is a wonderful opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors and to help others in need,” Gruwell said.

    Success by 6 is a nationally based program that is geared to fit the needs of local parents in Utah, said Karen Smiley, national director of Success by 6.

    Around the nation are 300 other similar programs.

    “This is a good opportunity for community members to get involved,” Smiley said.

    For those interested, the hours and length of volunteer time varies. However, there is mandatory 12- to 13-hour training Wednesday, March 14, Gruwell said.

    After this training is completed, volunteers can start visiting their assigned households immediately.

    In this program, not only do the parents and children benefit, but the volunteers also reap the rewards, Gruwell said.

    “Volunteers feel a sense of accomplishment because they feel they have contributed to the life of somebody else. No one can volunteer without feeling they receive things in doing it,” Gruwell said.

    For further information on how to apply, contact Scott G. Snow, Volunteer Center director for United Way at (801) 374-8108. Or visit the Web site at www.unitedwayuc.org.

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