Every day, parents across South Carolina work to improve the lives of their families, neighbors and communities. One of those parents is Camille McCrorey.
Camille McCrorey and her daughters, Keziah and Nema.
Camille is a mom of two girls, Keziah, 12, and Nema, 8, living in Woodruff, South Carolina. Camille participated in Nurse-Family Partnership and recently reflected on how the home visiting program equipped her with the knowledge and guidance to raise her daughters through every milestone.
Nurse-Family Partnership is a home visiting model that connects nurses with moms expecting their first baby, beginning in pregnancy until the child turns two years old. It is implemented by Spartanburg Regional Hospital, a funded partner of Children’s Trust.
What parenting advice would you give your younger self?
Trust your instincts as a parent. You may have times when you downplay something, but if you feel in your heart that something is off or different, then trust it. And report it as soon as possible and as often as possible. Trust your instincts and follow them.
How has Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) helped you as a parent?
NFP gave me all the things. My nurse was with me for a long time and was there through the “firsts.” My nurse taught me all the things I needed to know. Education was the key to my success: knowing appointments, Medicaid and milestones. Also, learning the timelines of everything: postpartum appointments, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) appointments and immunizations. She helped me when my oldest started walking; she had depth perception issues and talking to my nurse gave me the knowledge and language to talk to her pediatrician and go to a specialist.
What’s your favorite game or activity to play with your children?
We are crafty people. We love to paint and do tactile crafts, anything that we can build or make together. We also like to play card games.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
My village is the bomb. I cannot do this by myself; I cannot do all and I cannot be all. Where I fall short, someone in my village does have it, and I know I can call them for help.
Pictured are Camille and her oldest daughter, Keziah.
Children’s Trust administers the federal investment in home visiting for South Carolina – the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. Nurse-Family Partnership is one of three evidence-based home visiting models that Children’s Trust supports. Learn more about home visiting.
