Babies don’t come with instructions; That’s where we come in
We are home visitors for Nurture the Next, a nonprofit agency with more than 35 years of experience helping families and supporting local communities. We work here in Anderson County, and it’s our job to support families on their journey as parents.
Home visiting is proven to be the most effective way to foster healthy parent-child relationships. This hands-on approach helps parents understand their child’s need and feel confident in meeting them. It is also most impactful during the first five years of child’s life, when their brain is developing the fastest. By the time they’re 5 years old, 90 percent of a child’s brain is fully developed, so these early years are crucial. Nurture the Next offers services that can begin prenatally to ensure we can support families even before their child is born.
All our services are completely free and entirely confidential. Nurture the Next staff are trained professionals who are passionate about the work we do, and each of us has a favorite reason for why we love our work. I, Tristain, love supporting the bonds and interactions between parents and their children. For me, Brittany, I love being able to support parents during critical times in their child’s development. And I, Erika, love providing support to parents that help them build confidence in their own abilities and strengths. For each of us, our focus is helping parents become the best parent they can be for their child.
In home visiting sessions, we cover topics that are essential skills for any parent to know. Things like monitoring child development, nutrition and breastfeeding support, creating a safe home environment, demonstrating positive discipline, and more. We are always happy to connect families with additional resources or services. In addition to our home visiting staff, we run a 24/7 parent support helpline (800-CHILDREN) and a text-based parent mentorship program. You can learn more about us and find parenting tips at NurturetheNext.org.
At Nurture the Next, we believe that parenting matters—and we are committed to creating a future for children and families filled with promise and prosperity. Nurtured children grow into resilient, capable adults, and nurturing homes are built by parents who have the knowledge and a positive support system to help them.
Parenting is always going to be a challenge, but you’re not alone. We’re here to help.
If you are interested in learning more about Nurture the Next’s home visiting services, you can contact Cathy Gaddis, program supervisor, at 865-440-3914. Tristain, Erika, and Brittany are home visitors with Nurture the Next serving the Anderson County community.