Across Tribal lands, Native children are more likely to face developmental delays, and many families live in areas with limited access to health care and early childhood support. This reality, combined with the stress of isolation, poverty, and systemic barriers, makes early intervention and culturally grounded parenting support more critical than ever.  

That’s where the Family Spirit Home Visiting Program steps in. Our Program Partner, Tanya last initial, brings one-on-one parenting education directly into homes, grounded in cultural strengths and lived experience. The program, designed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, states that Family Spirit participants show higher parental self-efficacy and lower levels of depression and stress, which shows that this connection-centered model works.  

“In this program, we don’t just drop off lessons and Healthy Living incentives,” Tanya shared. “We sit, we listen, and we meet our moms where they’re at. I’ve been through struggles too, so when I say I understand, I mean it.” 

In Fort Defiance, Arizona, Tanya is more than a home visitor; she’s a source of strength and consistency.  

One client, Willena B., a 37-year-old single mother of seven, said Tanya’s guidance changed everything. Willena told us, “I used to rush my kids. I’d yell; I’d lose patience. But Tanya taught me to pause, to breathe. Now, I talk to my son when we brush our teeth, so he understands. That one lesson changed our whole routine.” 

Juggling full-time work in special education while finishing school to become a counselor, this mom often feels the weight of doing it all alone. Willena explained, “Some days, I’m stretched thin, but I’ve learned to manage it better. Tanya helps me see that I’m not failing. I’m learning, and I’m doing my best.”  

Support from the Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) Southwest Reservation Aid® (SWRA) program adds another layer of care. Families who attend lessons often receive incentives from SWRA’s Healthy Living service, like water, hygiene products, diapers, and more. These simple items help offset the cost of daily life and encourage continued participation. “Water is expensive out here,” Willena noted. “Wipes, soap, even makeup for my teenage girls, it all helps. It may seem small, but it means everything.” 

Another client, Orlinda N., discovered Family Spirit during a difficult pregnancy. With no transportation and few resources, she reached out after seeing a flyer. “It changed everything,” she said. “I called Tanya crying, and she didn’t hesitate. She stayed on the phone with me for almost an hour. She reminded me I’m strong.” 

Tanya remembered that call. “Sometimes, it’s not about what we teach,” she explained. “It’s about showing up and telling someone, ‘Know you’re not alone. I see you. I’m here.’ That’s when healing beings.” 

Orlinda was connected to resources, transported to appointments, and emotionally supported through postpartum challenges. “I didn’t have to do this alone,” she shared. “Because of this program and the support that came with it, from lessons to diapers, I found strength I didn’t know I had. Thank you for helping moms like me believe in ourselves again.” 

Programs like Family Spirit, enhanced by SWRA’s support, are essential for families living far from services or stretched by economic hardship. They provide safety, structure, and reassurance. They give parents tools to build stronger relationships with their children and find confidence in their own ability to lead. Most of all, they help create futures that are rooted in strength.  

“I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t found this [program],” Orlinda shared. “This program gave me the courage to believe in myself.” 

Donate to SWRA to help more families like Orlinda’s and Willena’s.