Nafahat was grateful for a healthy pregnancy and delivery of her twin girls, Leen and Lyan, but became overwhelmed after bringing her daughters home. Originally from Sudan, the stress of navigating new parenthood without family nearby left Nafahat and her husband feeling helpless.
Then she learned about the Milwaukee Start Right Home Visiting Program through Children’s Wisconsin and signed up right away.
Milwaukee Start Right Home Visitor Jennifer began visiting Nafahat when her twins were three months old. While playing with the girls, Jennifer and Nafahat talked about how they could work together to ensure the family had the support they needed. Jennifer also answered questions Nafahat had about new parenthood.
“Jennifer helped me understand how to deal with children - I didn’t have any idea!” said Nafahat. “Sometimes the girls would do things I didn’t understand, and Jennifer would tell me it was normal learning - she made me feel so comfortable.”
“From day one, Nafahat wanted to learn anything and everything she could to help her daughters,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer also supported Nafahat in achieving her personal goals of becoming a US citizen and entering college to pursue a nursing degree.
When COVID-19 hit, Nafahat and her husband lost income but knew where to turn right away. Jennifer was able to help them cover some bills with gift cards provided through United Way’s COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund.
Today, the whole family is thriving. Leen and Lyan are happy and healthy 2-year-olds and Nafahat feels organized and prepared in her parenting. “The girls understand me more and have developed their own personalities,” said Nafahat. “We are doing amazing!”
Nafahat and Milwaukee Start Right remind us all that to live better, we must Live United. Consider supporting this important work with a donation to United Way’s Community Fund.
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