Helping you care with confidence

Becoming a parent—whether you’re a mom, dad, or caregiver—is a life-changing journey. It’s joyful, challenging, messy, magical…and sometimes overwhelming. Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adjusting to life with a newborn, Welcome Baby is a free program in Utah County designed to support you every step of the way.

Our Story – Growing with Utah County Families

This program began as a grassroots effort by local nurses at the Utah County Health Department who saw a simple truth: new parents need support. What started as a way to help high-risk mothers has grown—thanks to increasing community demand—into a county-wide volunteer program that offers four core services—Home Visits, Ready To Learn Workshops, Playgroups, and Bedtime Stories—each designed to help support parents, nurture children, and strengthen families from the very beginning.

In 2024, we reached even more families:

  • 772 children’s books gifted to families in Utah County
  • 596 home visits completed
  • 10% increase in the number of home visits from the previous year

Programs

Home Visits – Personalized Support for You and Your Baby

Parenting a new baby can feel overwhelming – but you don’t have to do it alone. Our free home visits (offered in-person or virtually) connect you with a trained volunteer who listens, supports, and helps you feel more confident during your baby’s first couple of years.

Each visit is tailored to your needs and may include:

• Tips on feeding, sleep, and bonding
• Conversations around postpartum wellness
• Guidance on your baby’s growth and development
• Answers to your parenting questions and concerns
• Tools to help you set goals and solve problems
• Referrals to helpful community resources

Whether you’re a first-time parent or simply need extra support, these visits provide a compassionate space to learn, grow, and feel more confident—right from the comfort of your home.

https://forms.office.com/r/1ckRvGhHKJ

If you, or your children, are on Medicaid or WIC, you qualify for free visits with a nurse from the Utah County Health Department. Go to https://health.utahcounty.gov/home-visitation-programs/ to learn more.

Ready To Learn – Make Everyday Moments Count

Turn storytime, screen time, and playtime into powerful learning moments with parenting workshops! These free, engaging sessions are designed to help parents, grandparents, and caregivers raise confident, curious, and healthy children.

Through a series of 16 workshops, you’ll learn:

· Key milestones in your child’s development
· How to combine media, books, and hands-on play
· Simple ways to boost learning at home

Each month, you’ll receive a free children’s book and fun activity ideas to enjoy with your little one. And if you attend an in-person session—yes, there’s pizza!

Each month we offer 5 in-person and 1 virtual class. Virtual classes are held on Welcome Baby’s Facebook page – participants watch the class and fill out a quick survey to receive their free books!

Along with these workshops, you’ll gain access to additional free resources designed to support you throughout your parenting journey—every step of the way.

  • 1st Thursday of every month – 6pm at the Utah County Health Department (151 S University Ave, Provo)
  • 2nd Tuesday – 3pm via Facebook Live
  • 2nd Thursday – 6pm at the Orem Library (58 N State St.)
  • 3rd Thursday – 6pm at Kids Who Count (345 UT-198, Salem)
  • 4th Wednesday – 11:15am at the Utah County Health Department (151 S University Ave, Provo)
  • 4th Thursday – 6pm at Kids on the Move (850 S 1700 W, Lehi)

https://forms.office.com/r/M1k8TZNCST

  1. Benefits of Media
  2. Rhymers are Readers
  3. Music is a Must!
  4. Storytelling: You Can Do It!
  5. The Brain: How Children Develop
  6. The FUNdamental Powers of Play
  7. What is Emotion? Social and Emotional Development
  8. Who is my Child? Understanding Temperament
  9. What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel?
  10. Learning Through the Early Years: The Benefits of Repetition and Variation
  11. Shared Reading: Tools to Bring Literacy to Life
  12. Building Blocks: The Sequence of Emergent Literacy Skills
  13. Teaching STEM/STEAM at Home

Playgroups – Connection for You, Discovery for Your Child

Parenting is easier (and more fun) when you have a community. Playgroups are a chance for parents and caregivers to build real friendships, share experiences, and support each other, while your little ones play, learn, and grow in a safe, welcoming space.

Designed for children 18 months to 5 years old, our playgroups offer:

· Weekly hands-on crafts, songs, and activities
· Opportunities to boost your child’s social and school-readiness skills
· Snacks and smiles during each in-person session
· A chance to feel more confident and connected in your parenting journey

Each of our 6 playgroups offers a space to laugh, learn, and grow – together. Right now we offer 4 playgroups in English, 1 in Spanish, and 1 in Russian – and you’re welcome to attend any that fit your schedule!

  • Mondays at 10:30am – Utah County Health Department (151 S University Ave, Provo)
  • Tuesdays at 11:30am – Spanish Group at the South Franklin
    Community Center (770 S 700 W Provo)
  • Wednesdays at 10am – American Fork Community Center (90 S Center St, American Fork)
  • Thursdays at 10:30am – Russian Group at the South Franklin Community Center (Provo)
  • Fridays at 10am – Kids Who Count (345 UT-198, Salem)
  • Fridays at 10:30am – South Franklin Community Center (Provo)

https://forms.office.com/r/uEVVFwXMYb

Bedtime Stories

This heartwarming program connects incarcerated parents at the Utah State Correctional Facility with their children through the power of storytelling. Once a month, volunteers visit the facility to help parents record themselves reading children’s books. These recordings are then sent home, allowing kids to hear their parent’s voice at bedtime—a simple but powerful way to maintain connection and comfort.

Note: This program is currently paused, but we hope to restart it soon. We are actively looking for volunteers willing to visit the prison monthly to help bring this meaningful program back to life.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WELCOME BABY

Support Welcome Baby – Help Families Thrive from the Start

Thank you for your interest, your generosity helps new parents in Utah County feel seen, supported, and ready for the journey ahead.

Every donation—whether financial or in-kind—makes a meaningful difference. Funds go directly toward home visits, parenting workshops, and playgroups that strengthen families and build brighter beginnings for babies.

Funds

Donations to the Welcome Baby program will go toward funding home visits to new parents, parenting workshops, and playgroups.

Donate

Give Items Families Need

We deliver a care package after each home visit, filled with essentials like blankets, books, and baby clothes. You can donate individual items or pre-made kits (sizes 3–18 months). Right now, we especially need baby boy items, bibs, burp cloths, diapers, and formula.

Accepted items include:
· New or handmade baby blankets, socks, and outfits
· Diapers, wipes, and Frida Mom products
· Books, toys, bath items, and more

Shop from one of our Amazon wish lists to make it easy:
• General Welcome Baby List
• Boy Newborn Kits
• Girl Newborn Kits
• Community Baby Shower List

SERVE – Make a Local Impact

Support families by helping us prep meaningful materials for parents and babies. Great for individuals or groups!

Assemble Home Visit Kits

Help us collect and assemble gift bags that are delivered to new parents during their home visits. Each kit includes essentials like a children’s book, baby outfit, blanket, bib or burp cloth, and other thoughtful items. This is a fun and rewarding group project that directly supports families in our community.

Create Developmental Activities

Put your creativity to work! We provide hands-on learning activities during our Ready To Learn parenting workshops—and we need help assembling them. Activities are pre-designed to match each month’s lesson and involve crafting tasks like cutting, gluing, coloring, and sorting materials. Perfect for individuals or groups of any size!

Have Questions or Want to Get Involved?

We’d love to hear from you! Contact our Welcome Baby Coordinator at natalyam@unitedwayuc.org to ask about donating, volunteering, or hosting a baby item drive.

Together, we’re building a stronger start for Utah County’s newest families.

get involved

Volunteer with Purpose

As a Welcome Baby volunteer, you’ll be trained to provide supportive home visits (in-person or virtual) to new and expectant parents in Utah County. These 30-minute visits offer a listening ear, encouragement, and helpful information that families deeply appreciate.

You set the pace—choose how many visits you want to do each month based on your schedule. Many of our volunteers are:
    · Experienced parents
    · Nursing or social work students
    · Individuals passionate about child development and strengthening families

It’s a flexible, rewarding way to give back—and you’ll leave each visit knowing you made a difference.

Apply
Report Hours

Intern with Welcome Baby

Want real-world experience that truly matters? Join us as a Welcome Baby intern! Each semester (including summer), interns help run the heart of the program—coordinating with families and volunteers, helping at Playgroups and parenting workshops, and even conducting home visits.

Whether you’re studying child development, family science, public health, or nonprofit work, this is your chance to make an impact while building your skills in:
    · Family and community outreach
    · Resource connection
    · Early childhood education
    · Program coordination

Now accepting applications for Fall 2025! We’d love to have you on our team.

Apply

Meet the team

Stephanie Anderson

Senior Director - Children & Family Success
stephaniea@unitedwayuc.org

natalya millet

Welcome Baby Coordinator
natalyam@unitedwayuc.org

Mia Barragan

Welcome Baby Americorps VISTA
miab@unitedwayuc.org

Welcome Baby of Utah County is a program of United Way of Utah County.

Phone and voicemail: 801-691-5440

welcomebaby@unitedwayuc.org

Office Texting Line: 801-921-5485

DONATE

United Way of Utah County

148 North 100 West

Provo, Utah 84601

Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

 

Phone: 801-374-2588

Fax: 801-374-2591

Email: info@unitedwayuc.org

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