Culture of Giving
Any Baby Can: Strengthening families to improve the lives of Austin's children
Any Baby Can helps moms like Nancy. At 18 months old, her son Steven was diagnosed with autism. Overwhelmed with the complexity of the disease, the Austin mom didn't know where to turn for help.
Thankfully, Steven's doctor connected her to Any Baby Can, and shortly after diagnosis, Nancy enrolled in the organization's Early Childhood Intervention Program. The Any Baby Can staff helped Nancy navigate the challenges of autism and learn how to best care for her son. She learned how to help herself and her son cope with the disease, and she learned the special learning techniques of a child with autism, all in her own home. Steven, now three years old, is thriving in school.
"Any Baby Can truly understood the needs of my child and my family," Nancy said on the organization's website. "They not only gave me the tools I needed to care for my son, they gave me the peace of mind in knowing that Steven received the best care possible."
Any Baby Can's mission is clear: to "improve the lives of children by strengthening them and their families through education, therapy and family support services." The organization carries out this mission in a variety of ways, including family counseling, direct service to help pregnant women get quality pre-natal care, and setting them up to properly care for and raise their child. The bilingual staff of more than 100 makes home visits, leads community classes and hosts support programs for its clients as well.
Research shows that children who grow up in steady, supportive households succeed in their adult lives, and that starts with educating their families about what makes a healthy and safe home — and making services available to those who need it.
In Travis County alone, 48 percent of single moms with children below the age of five live in poverty, and 35 percent of mothers do not receive adequate prenatal care.
Any Baby Can serves a crucial need in directly serving and connecting families, especially low-income families, with services that can help foster the best household and upbringing for their children.
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