When Reid was born at only 26 weeks, his challenges began long before he even took his first breath. His birth mother had received no prenatal care and struggled with methamphetamine and alcohol use during her pregnancy, which left Reid extremely fragile when he arrived. After four weeks in the NICU, he was released into the care of his grandmother who immediately stepped into the role of his protector and advocate. It was at this same time that CHA’s Catawba Valley Healthy Families (CVHF) program became involved.

CVHF is an early intervention program focused on supporting the early development of children, and wrapping support around their family through age 5. Reid and his grandmother were a perfect fit for the program.

In the beginning, Reid faced significant developmental hurdles. His low birth weight and prematurity made it difficult for him to gain weight and reach early milestones. A part of our service helps connect families with other resources in their community, creating partnerships and a village to ensure kids thrive. Reid received nutritional services, and he began to grow stronger and healthier with this support. CHA staff also introduced activities that helped strengthen his developmental skills and encouraged continued progress.

During this time, social services remained involved because of Reid’s mother’s ongoing substance use. Our CVHF team assisted Reid’s grandmother as she pursued legal guardianship to ensure Reid’s long-term safety. After much persistence, Reid’s grandmother was granted permanent custody of Reid on his first birthday. This was the moment that everyone on the team was able to exhale, knowing that Reid’s grandmother would be able continue providing this sweet boy with a loving and safe home.

As Reid grew, so did his progress. He was connected with speech and occupational therapy to continue supporting his development and growth. When it came time for Reid to enroll in preschool his grandmother was a little bit unsure. The bustling boy was excited, but he was still on the smaller size and had communication delays. Our team encouraged her to explore the opportunities preschool could offer. He loved it immediately. By the time Reid was four years old, he had developed a strong vocabulary and communicated clearly and confidently.

On Reid’s fifth birthday, he and his grandmother graduated from our CVHF program. Although their formal time in the program has ended, Reid and his grandmother plan to stay connected through parent groups and volunteer opportunities. They would love to start supporting others just as they were supported.