Pernet keeping in touch with client families

Compiled by Raymond L. Delisle
Director of Communications Ministry

Pernet Family Health Service is a certified home health agency which has been serving families in need since the early-1960s. It was founded by the Little Sisters of the Assumption who provided home visits as nurses to help young mothers and fathers to learn how to be nurturing parents. Over the years, dedicated lay professionals in nursing and various specialties, including social work and family counseling, have built a network of services, working closely with families which are “on the fringes” and at great risk. 
We asked Sheilah Dooley, RN, executive director of Pernet, how it is adjusting to serving its clients during this pandemic.

How has this pandemic impacted Pernet’s ability to service its client families overall?
It has been a challenging few weeks in all aspects of our lives and my prayer is that we get through this in good health, wiser and with more compassion. This is a time to reflect on our lives and be thankful for the supports we have. Here at Pernet, it has been a balancing act of applying for different grants and loans to keep the programs going and making sure that each of the individuals and families that we serve get the help they need in a timely manner. We have been practicing social distancing and have had to reimagine how we deliver our services.

Early intervention is a major part of your service offering for families. How have you adapted?
EI provides family-centered services that facilitate the developmental progress of eligible children. EI helps children acquire the skills they will need to succeed in life. Our services have always been face-to-face but we have had to adapt to “telehealth.”  Our staff are working with the families over the phone and on video while maintaining privacy.  It has taken a lot of training and support for the staff and working with families to accommodate everyone’s schedule.  Our staff have learned how to do intakes digitally. Not all families are able to adapt to remote services but we are trying everything we can, including phone calls, to keep in touch with them.

Have you had more success with engaging families in the Parent Aide program?
We have had 90 percent engagement with the families and they have responded well to the change. Where these services were entirely face-to-face and sometimes in group settings in the past, we are now hosting ZOOM sessions, using Facetime, Skype, live chats and lots of telephone calls. When we know that a family is low on food or other supplies, we utilize Pernet’s stocked food pantry and make deliveries to the front step. A home visit may be conducted from outside the front door. Any type of support during this isolating time is helpful.

One particular service which has gained a lot of recognition over the years is the father’s program. Can that continue right now?
The Fathers and Family program has been widely recognized because it helps fathers who have been challenged as parents to strengthen their connection with their children. Although we cannot continue the program within the Worcester County House of Correction during this health crisis, we are holding a virtual class for other fathers. Half of the group continues to participate and during a recent session some of the members stated how they have benefited from the group and they would like to continue meeting after the eight-week course to support each other. This is a testimony to how the human connection is strong even when groups are meeting via teleconferencing.

Does Pernet still offer skilled nursing?
Our nurse at Pernet provides home care and support to pregnant and parenting women, infants, young children and their families. Our Maternal and Child Nursing Program is critical in high-risk situations and our staff is still doing home visits, especially for children coming out of the NICU (newborn intensive care unit). The staff is equipped with personal protective equipment so that they can safely make the necessary home visits.

Is there still an ability to have a youth program, given that kids cannot attend school?
Homework Club has been an important part of the lives of the young people in the families we serve.  Our youth coordinator has distributed care packages to the youth, which included books, arts and craft supplies and worksheets for the Homework Club members, to give them the needed supplies and also to stay connected with them. Since an important facet of the Youth Program is social interaction, we are looking forward to the point when we can bring them together again for fun activities in local parks and on field trips.

– Pernet is supported in part by Partners in Charity. Pernet received $30,000 from the 2019 Partners appeal. To learn more about the programs visit www.pernetfamilyhealth.org.