What is this initiative about?

The Welcome to Milwaukee program distributes care packages to the families of babies born at the St. Joseph Campus of Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital.

A Program to Give Milwaukee’s Babies a Bright Start

The birth of a baby plunges parents into a new world. It’s a world consumed by the here and now. Feeding and diapers. Doctors and checkups. Car seats and sleep. With all the immediate needs, preparing the baby for school hardly makes the radar.

But those early days are actually the prime time to get kids ready for learning. The first months and years build babies’ brains in ways that affect them for life. And with just a little knowledge and effort, their families can set them up for success.

The Welcome to Milwaukee program distributes care packages to the families of babies born at the St. Joseph Campus of Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital. The packages arm parents with information about early brain development, plus the resources they need to put it into practice. So every baby can start life poised to thrive.

What’s included in each bag?

To support families, the following are included in each Welcome To Milwaukee bag:

• A resource about preparing babies for learning and school

• Diapers (Size 1)

• A diaper bag courtesy of Molina Healthcare

• 1 multicultural board book courtesy of the City of Milwaukee Public Library

• A keychain with brain development tips & access to an app with parenting tips from CTSI CAN/Vroom

• A free one-day pass to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

• A “Graduate Class of…” Onesie courtesy of Black Child Development Institute – Milwaukee in partnership with OECI

• A list of free/low-cost resources from the City of Milwaukee Health Department