For volunteer, helping families early a bonus

LEWISTON — For Ashley Pulkkinen, volunteering for Advocates for Children has given her a way to help families before there is a problem.

She’s seen what happens to families after.

“This is not coming to families, but coming along side of them and being a piece of prevention,” she said. “You are building a relationship before a crisis occurs, building bonds with families rather than coming in after the fact.”

Before Pulkkinen started a family of her own, she worked as caseworker for the state’s Child Protective Services. She would come to homes where violence had occurred, investigating and hopefully helping families pick up the pieces.

She left the state’s employ when she had children but wanted to get back into work when they reached school age.

“It’s a hurdle switching from ‘just Mom’ to getting back into the workplace,” Pulkkinen said. “Volunteering was a way for me to start that process. It’s felt like graduating college again, just starting over. I love child welfare, but Protective Services was not where I wanted to be any more.”

She found her place volunteering as a play group counselor at Advocates for Children. The agency provides counseling, training and support for new parents. Services range from drop-in play groups every Monday and Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the group’s 124 Lisbon St. offices to in-home visits.

Parents and children can drop in for the play groups; they don’t need a referral or a reason, other than giving their toddler a place to play and a chance to burn some energy.

“One time, I looked over at this mom, and she was having a hard time with a newborn and a toddler,” Pulkkinen said. “I looked over and she hugged the coordinator. This mom was able to let go and get a safe place. It was that compassion and that down-to-earth relating I liked, and that it made an impact on this mom’s life.”

Often, that extra support makes all the difference.

“You see some people that come in that just need this space for their kiddo to be in a safe place and move around,” she said. “Then you have others that come to connect with other moms and see how things are going.”

Her volunteer gig is now turning into a full-time job. She’s in training now, working as home visit counselor, providing counseling and support to parents from pregnancy to school age. The counselors visit families that call them, bringing parental support and information on everything from breast-feeding to immunizations to toilet training and child growth and development.

“I’ve always loved Advocates,” she said. “They get it. They get the connection piece, they are engaging with families.”

It’s the flip side to what she did when worked for the state. Before, she came to families that were in crisis. Now, she comes to them when they’re starting and hopefully steering them into safer behaviors.

“It’s one of the most complex and hardest jobs ever, but there is no support, she said. “You have to take a test to drive car, yet there is nothing for parents, except for the occasional classes.”

They talk about safe sleeping habits, smoking, colic — today known as “PURPLE Crying” — and shaken baby syndrome.

“It’s about being prepared for all that, and what they can do and looking for developmental milestones,” she said.

Know someone with a deep well of unlimited public spirit? Someone who gives of their time to make their community a better place? Then nominate them for Kudos. Send their name and the place where they do their good deeds to reporter Scott Taylor at staylor@sunjournal.com and we’ll do the rest.

staylor@sunjournal.com