Newborns and their families in Kleve city are now welcomed with visits by the city - a beneficial initiative for newly formed families.
City of Kleve Introduces Welcome Visits for Newborn Families
The Youth Welfare Office in Kleve initiates a new service aimed at welcoming all newborn children within the city area with personal visits. This initiative seeks to support families early on, provide information, and raise awareness about the diverse support network available in Kleve.
Last year, the Youth Welfare Committee spearheaded the launch of the welcome visits initiative. Thanks to a 40,000 euro allocation from the budget, the Youth Welfare Office managed to secure the services of four experienced providers for implementation: SOS Children's Village Kleve, Anna-Stift Foundation, Bunte Kreis Kleverland, and the Family Education Centre. Each provider contributes unique expertise to the project, ranging from children's nursing to youth welfare and adult education. These providers collaborate closely, even outside of the welcome visits.
Markus Koch, head of the Youth Welfare Office, expresses his satisfaction, stating, "It's wonderful that we can now expand the positive experiences we've gained from welcome visits in project settings to the entire city area." He emphasizes the importance of early support, stating, "Although everyone is a child at birth, not everyone is a parent. Obtaining the necessary knowledge and experience requires a considerable effort. Fortunately, Kleve boasts an excellent infrastructure for early support."
Families receive a gift package carefully compiled with various resources, including small socks and a 'child finder' sticker from the Kleve Fire Department. This sticker is intended to help emergency services quickly locate vulnerable children in the event of a fire.
Alexander Paß-von Wedel, network coordinator for early support in the Youth Welfare Office, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "I would have been thrilled if we had received a welcome visit when our children were born. I find this offer incredibly valuable, now available throughout Kleve." The first visits have already taken place, garnering consistently positive feedback from families.
The Value of Welcome Visits
Welcome visits serve as a fundamental component of early support, offering substantial benefits for young families. These visits not only extend a warm welcome to new life but also support parents during a critical phase. The birth of a child brings immense joy, yet it is also fraught with questions and uncertainties. Welcome visits address these concerns by establishing a low-threshold, initial contact between families and the local support network.
Professionals offer information about local resources, respond to queries concerning the development and care of the child, and, if necessary, provide further assistance—all on a voluntary, confidential, and equal footing. Studies indicate that early contacts with support offers can strengthen parental security and reduce the risk of being overwhelmed.
- Newly-formed families in Kleve can now look forward to uniquely compiled gift packages as part of the welcome visits initiative, which include not only small socks but also a 'child finder' sticker from the Kleve Fire Department to boost home-and-garden safety.
- Through the welcome visits program, parents in Kleve can gain valuable insights into the diverse support network available within the city, aiding them in navigating the critical phase of their new lifestyle transition, thus fostering a sense of security and reducing potential feelings of being overwhelmed.
