Support That Helped One Mother Find Her Confidence 

When Shannen Jimenez became pregnant with her first child, she believed she had everything she needed to begin motherhood. She had a loving partner. Supportive parents. Family nearby. Friends she could count on. Like many first-time parents, she felt ready to embrace the next chapter of her life. But pregnancy and parenthood rarely follow the path we imagine. Instead of the joyful beginning she had envisioned, Shannen found herself navigating a medical crisis that changed everything. 

“My pregnancy became traumatic,” she said. “I experienced serious complications, an emergency delivery, and months of uncertainty while my daughter remained in the hospital. What should have been one of the happiest times in my life became one of the hardest. I was overwhelmed, scared, and struggling emotionally in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time.” 

The experience was isolating. Although she was surrounded by people who loved her, the uncertainty of her daughter’s condition and the emotional weight of becoming a mother under such difficult circumstances left Shannen searching for something more. 

That was when Healthy Families Massachusetts became part of her journey. Healthy Families MA is a home visiting program available in every city and town across the Commonwealth for first-time parents. 

For Shannen, her home visitor became a trusted source of encouragement during one of the most vulnerable periods of her life. Rather than judgment, she found compassion. Rather than criticism, she found someone willing to meet her exactly where she was. 

“My home visitor wasn’t there to judge me. She was there to walk alongside me. Sometimes she would sit with me in silence while my daughter was in the hospital and she would simply ask how I was doing and really listen to the answer.” 

Shannen Jimenez

Moments like these became a reminder that she did not have to carry the weight of her experience alone. 

While much of the conversation around parenting naturally focuses on mothers, Shannen says one aspect of Healthy Families Massachusetts stood out in a particularly meaningful way: the program recognized that parenting is a shared journey. Shannen says that her home visitor created space for both her and her husband to grow into their roles together. 

“Healthy Families didn’t just support me. It supported our whole family. And that’s what I hope all of you know.” 

Shannen Jimenez

Looking back, Shannen says the experience changed the way she thinks about home visiting. 

For many people, the work of home visitors happens quietly, behind the scenes. Families may never forget the milestones they celebrate with their children, but they also remember the people who helped them through the moments when those milestones felt far away. 

Today, when she reflects on her family’s journey, Shannen thinks about the home visitor who stood beside them through uncertainty, listened without judgment, and reminded her that she belonged in her new role as a mother.