By Lauren Stromberg
Lisa Close holds her baby girl, Constance, on her lap and gazes into the 3-month-old''s eyes. Constance stands on her mother''s lap and coos as Close''s husband and a health volunteer watch.
Lisa, 27, a BYU graduate student, and her husband Clark, 26, are part of the Welcome Baby program developed by the United Way, the Utah County Health Program and BYU.
Welcome Baby is a home visitation program for first-time parents.
The program focuses on teaching parents how to form a knowledgeable and stable family.
Program volunteers visit families once a month and provide reading materials on subjects such as health, safety and infant development.
The Closes heard about the program through a friend who volunteers for Welcome Baby.
'I wanted to share all of the great information of Welcome Baby with them,' said Melissa Leuck, a volunteer and friend of the Closes.
Because Leuck has known the couple for three years, the visits may be a bit less formal than most but still informative.
Leuck said when she goes to the Closes'' home, they talk about Constance''s development and the things they have noticed she is doing differently. Leuck said she ends her visit by talking about health factors, developments and available community resources.
'She is my expert,' Lisa said. 'Everyone who has a baby can give advice, but that doesn''t mean they know what they are talking about.'
Leuck is also a volunteer coordinator for Welcome Baby and prepares volunteers to enter family''s homes.
Volunteers attend a six-hour training session where they discuss topics such as communication and cultural sensitivity before the volunteers are given a specific family.
After training, the volunteers have an opportunity to visit a family with a United Way nurse.
Nurses visit high-risk infants, such as babies of teenage pregnancies and premature babies. Volunteers can only visit low-risk babies.
Kami Taylor, 26, a UVSC student studying behavioral science, has been a volunteer since February. She said she volunteers because having a son makes her feel like she can help someone.
'I was so confused because I didn''t have the program,' Taylor said. 'I was worried about little tiny things. It is nice to have someone with information - just to talk to.'
There are 36 volunteers helping 73 families throughout Utah County.
'I think, coming from a parent perspective, the program is a great opportunity to feel the support, to get some information and to feel confident in your role as a new parent,' Leuck said.
Even though Clark, who is majoring in geography at BYU, stays home with Constance while Lisa works, the program has helped Lisa tremendously, Clark said.
'I grew up in a family where I babysat brothers and sisters, so I know what is going on,' Clark said. 'The program probably helps Lisa more.'
Lisa said she considers herself lucky to have Leuck.
During the third month of the program, the family is introduced to the Marriage Moments program. Participation in this program is optional.
Alan Hawkins, a professor in the School of Family Life at BYU, developed Marriage Moments - a program based on four marital virtues: friendship, generosity, fairness and loyalty.
'After a few months (of having a new baby), new stresses and big changes occur in marital relationships,' Hawkins said. 'We begin by talking about those changes and things they can do to keep the marriage strong.'
The best thing for a baby is a healthy marriage, said Kimberly Lovejoy, 22, a graduate student studying marriage, family and human development and the project coordinator.
The program is designed to stimulate conversation and prevent any future problems. The program workbook includes several activities and questions.
Marriage Moments has only been part of the Welcome Baby program since November, so data regarding its effectiveness is not available. However, Lovejoy has heard many positive comments about the program.
'I think this is something people are looking for,' Lovejoy said. 'We hope that it helps people to be aware of what is normal.'
Welcome Baby is a Utah County program administered by the United Way''s Success by Six initiative Success by Six''s goal is to have children ready for school by age 6.
Welcome Baby and Marriage Moments are free. Anyone interested in volunteering or seeking help can contact the United Way at 374-2588.