MORRISVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – A program that helps parents of newborns connect with essential needs is expanding in Vermont.
“I had no idea what I was doing. I had to have an emergency C-section. I was not expecting that,” said Chelsea Spencer, a Lamoille County resident. “I felt lost. DULCE is just such an impactful program. It partially saved my life, as a new mom.”
Spencer has been connected with The Lamoille Family Center’s DULCE program since she had her first child in 2020. From diapers to toys, the center connected her with the resources she was struggling to find.
“The hope of DULCE is that we can do some screenings to make sure people have food, to make sure they have housing, to make sure they have all of those basic things. We all need to be successful so that when you are taking care of a brand new baby, you’re focused on that baby,” said the center’s Carol Lane-Godin.
DULCE, which stands for developmental understanding and legal collaboration for everyone, connects new families with medical and legal services, transportation, food, fuel assistance, and other support. It’s the brainchild of a Boston doctor who saw new families lacking support. The program was implemented in a few major cities at first. The one at the Lamoille County Family Center was its first rural location. They’re close to serving their 800th newborn. “We want to build families up right from the start,” Lane-Godin said.
DULCE has six locations across Vermont and is funded by private donors and grants from the Department of Health. They’re aiming to open three more locations this year. Spencer signed up to be a parent advocate after healing with DULCE. She’s now a part of the movement to spread the program. “With the expansion of DULCE, we could really see parents getting their needs met and becoming better parents,” she said.
The organization will be hosting dinners across the state from April to June to provide information to providers and parents.
