November 27, 2020

From Participant To Helping Others: Crystal's Stork's Nest Story

When Crystal Lozano was in high school she volunteered and worked at EveryStep, including in the organization’s Stork's Nest program.
 
Little did she know, that several years later, at the age of 19, she'd be expecting her first child and in need of support through the very same program.
 
Crystal, whose mother worked as an interpreter for EveryStep, encouraged her to volunteer in the organization's child care program during high school.
 
From there, she applied for a position with the program and assisted with Stork's Nest, an educational incentive program offered through EveryStep.
 
Stork's Nest participants earn points for healthy behaviors such as keeping medical appointments, WIC participation, breastfeeding and school attendance.
 
Crystal left the organization after high school as she moved out of state to pursue her nursing degree.
 
When she found out she was pregnant in 2014, she didn't hesitate to contact EveryStep and Stork's Nest.
 
"Knowing about the program and being familiar with what was there helped me a lot," she said. "I signed up, qualified and then signed up with other services, like Nurse-Family Partnership."
 
By utilizing the programs, Crystal says she was able to see the process from both sides.
 
"I enjoyed the programs," she said. "Being a young mom, it helped me financially and the classes they offered helped me a lot. I enjoyed that, I learned a lot that I didn't know."
 
Crystal said the education provided by her nurse was helpful in planing her future, too.
 
By attending classes and her doctor's appointments, Crystal was able to accumulate points and redeem those with Stork's Nest for diapers, wipes, a crib and mattress, and other necessities.
 
While Crystal was thankful for the services provided by EveryStep and found it beneficial for her growing family, which included her new son Charlie, she didn't carry on as a participant with EveryStep’s programs.
 
Instead, she rejoined the EveryStep family as an employee.
 
"I discharged early from the programs, as I applied for an interpretation and child care position," she said. "I knew that I wanted to work with kids, and I knew I wanted to work in a community where I could give back and help others."
 
EveryStep was the perfect fit.
 
As she continued working with EveryStep, she took on more roles, including helping with Stork's Nest during the then coordinator's maternity leave.
 
"Later on, when they asked if I was interested in a position with Stork's Nest, I said ‘yes’," she recalls.
 
That was in 2016. Since then, Crystal has welcomed another baby - Isabelle - and helped a number of new and expecting mothers through her work as a Stork's Nest program assistant.
 
"I hope families have the opportunity to try it," she says of EveryStep's programs, including Stork's Nest. "I know there are some families that might shy away, but it's worth it."