Meet Courtney of Project Sprout

Courtney is a lifelong resident of Jefferson Township, a 2006 graduate of Twin Lakes High School, and a 2010 graduate of St. Elizabeth School of Nursing/ St. Joseph’s College. She has always had a passion for working with moms and babies and remembers telling her mother, “I’m gonna be a nurse for the babies someday!” 

She began her healthcare career at Twin Lakes High School in Mrs. Laura Burnifeld’s Health Careers Course/Program. During her senior year at Twin Lakes, Courtney worked at White  County Memorial Hospital (now known as IU White Memorial). The transitioning of the hospital to the IU Health Network led to natural shifts within the OB program, ultimately leading to Courtney’s transition to IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. There she worked in the Labor & Delivery and Obstetrics departments at IU Arnett for ten years.

At the start of her career, she often worked 13+ hour days, and when Courtney and her husband, Kyle, became parents of three boys, she decided to work closer to home where she became the nurse at Meadowlawn Elementary in Monticello, IN. During her year at Meadowlawn, she was approached by Nick Green, Director of the Mobile Integrated Health program, to recruit her for the Maternal Health Specialist position of the MIH program. Courtney now brings over 15 years of experience in labor and delivery and a passion for maternal and infant care to Project Sprout.

What is Project Sprout?

The mission of Project Sprout is to “build strong, lasting foundations for families by nourishing caregivers and children.” Project Sprout is not a replacement for prenatal care – it is an extension of the care you already receive. “I work in tandem with your OB provider to provide more in-depth care and support outside of the medical office,” says Courtney.  

There are no cost or eligibility criteria and Project Sprout is not strictly limited to parents (recent data shows that over 50,000 caregivers in Indiana are grandparents). The only limitation is that Project Sprout serves the same geographical areas as the Monticello Fire Department – all of White County and Jefferson Township of Carroll County.

Individuals are referred to the program through many channels, such as healthcare providers and community resource agencies. However, caregivers & parents can also refer themselves if they would like to join the program. There is a short referral form on the City of Monticello’s website, but referrals can also be made via Facebook or by calling the Monticello Fire Department at 574-583-3151.’Individuals are referred to the program through many channels, such as healthcare providers and community resource agencies. However, caregivers & parents can also refer themselves if they would like to join the program. There is a short referral form on the City of Monticello’s website, but referrals can also be made via Facebook or by calling the Monticello Fire Department at 574-583-3151.

Why is this important?

Indiana has the eighth-highest infant mortality and the third-highest maternal mortality rate at 44 deaths per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality is the “death of a baby before their first birthday.” Maternal mortality is the “death of a mother during pregnancy or up to one year after childbirth, due to a cause related to pregnancy or a mother’s pre-existing condition that was made worse by pregnancy” (IU School of Medicine, 2022). Research by the IU Public Policy Institute (2022) has identified multiple contributing factors that would lead to this high maternal mortality rate, one being a severe lack of access to maternal health services across the state – 32 counties lack obstetrics services. In other words, if maternal healthcare services are inaccessible, life-threatening pregnancy-associated risks increase.

The philosophy at Project Sprout is that education is power – if you don’t know better, you can’t do better. Courtney aims to eliminate the barriers mothers face in our community when accessing maternal and infant healthcare services by providing judgment-free education to moms, caregivers, and children from the comfort of their own homes. Her education focuses on increasing awareness of the importance of good nutrition, correct use of car seats, and safe sleep practices.

As a Certified Car Seat Technician and Safe Sleep Educator, Courtney can check the safety and use of car seats and sleeping arrangements. If needed, she has access to state funds to replace car seats and cribs for free, the only requirement is the recipient must attend a safe sleep/car seat safety training. These services aim to empower parents and caregivers with knowledge to keep their babies safe.

Reach out to Project Sprout!

Courtney’s passion for her work is visible through her pride and gratitude when talking about Project Sprout and her clients. “Sometimes all a mama needs for her mental health is to talk to someone safe, and it is an honor to be that person for them.” She says the most rewarding part of her job is to watch her clients thrive, going from “I don’t know where to go next.” to “Look at what I’m doing!” 

For more information about Project Sprout, visit their Facebook page, find the referral form on the City of Monticello’s website, or call the Fire Department at 574-583-3151.