RHA Is Accepting Referrals While Expanding Child First Services in Western North Carolina
June 9, 2026
RHA is excited to announce we are actively accepting referrals as we expand Child First services in Haywood, Henderson, and Madison Counties! Child First, which has served Buncombe County since 2024, fosters resilience in young children and families dealing with adversity.
The program supports families experiencing challenges such as lack of basic needs, trauma, homelessness, parental mental health issues, poverty, and domestic or community violence. Through Child First, Licensed Clinicians and Family Resource Partners provide support within families’ home environments. Families with children birth through five years of age with emotional/behavioral or developmental/learning needs are eligible to receive Child First. The program is covered at no charge for those enrolled in Vaya’s Healthcare Plan.
The response to RHA’s Child First services has been overwhelmingly positive. The program addresses a significant service gap for families with young children. By expanding Child First, RHA will reach families in rural areas who may not have access to other support.
Behavioral Health Director Helen Devore shares why Child First is meaningful: “I do not think there is anything more difficult or humbling than raising a child. The ‘takes a village’ mentality is ideal but not readily available for a lot of families. Options and resources are dwindling for families with small children. Coming into a family unit and helping them experience each other differently, rewrite their story, and build a village is a privilege. Our Child First teams take their mission very seriously. Our teams view it as a privilege to walk alongside a family and help them feel seen. That is what makes Child First different, and that is why Child First makes a difference.”
Studies indicate that Child First enhances mental health, school readiness, and reduces child abuse, significantly improving family health and wellbeing, both now and in the future. Although the benefits of Child First are many, here are a few measured results of the program:
75% improvement in caregiver-child relationships.
70% decrease in symptoms of depression in caregivers.
68% decrease in child language problems.
67% decrease in parenting stress.
57% improvement in children’s social skills.
To learn more about Child First and make a referral, visit rhahealth.org/childfirst .
There is no better way to learn about Child First than to see its life-changing impact on families in Western North Carolina. Helen Devore shares success stories representing three key values of Child First: promoting resilience, securing resources, and building community.
Promoting Resilience: “In Western North Carolina, RHA Child First teams doubled down on resources during a recent winter storm. Clinicians and Family Resource Partners secured propane vouchers, sleeping bags, and food for families in need. One family needed these physical resources and expressed heightened anxiety due to their experience with Hurricane Helene. The family’s Child First team showed up for them throughout the winter storm, holding space for the caregiver to reflect on lingering concerns and fears while also reducing resource stressors. While our teams waited in resource lines in the cold, they saw their Child First families in the same place. Meeting each other with smiles, the teams and families reaffirmed the sense of community between them, even amid stress.”
Securing Resources: “During the recent government shutdown, Child First families were consistently concerned about access to food. With limited financial resources and/or transportation barriers, families experienced a significant increase in stress regarding providing food for their households. Child First teams grappled with this challenge alongside their families, locating resources from various food banks and community agencies. One Family Resource Partner, Heclyann Garcia, sought out Food Connection, a local organization providing prepared meals throughout the Asheville area. Heclyann established a relationship with Food Connection and was able to secure several meals for Child First families on a reoccurring basis. Another Family Resource Partner, Omaira Ojeda, established a relationship with Colaborativa La Milpa, a local organization supporting the Asheville community with various resources, including food. Child First begins with the relationship in mind. We know that through relationship and connection — whether with our team members, our families, or our partners — both individuals and communities can heal and flourish.”
Building Community: “Around Christmas, Family Resource Partner Omaira was working with a mother experiencing increased financial strain and isolation, made heavier by the uncertainty of the government shutdown. During their conversations, the mother shared stories about her home country and how sewing had been an important part of her culture, identity, and connection to family. She spoke about missing her culture deeply and how sewing had once been a source of comfort and meaning. Omaira recognized this need resembled the idea of the ‘invisible string’ — a way of staying connected despite distance and loss. The mother no longer had a sewing machine and could not afford one, which meant this meaningful connection and source of practical support felt out of reach.
Omaira reached out to community connections, and a woman who also loved sewing responded. She shared that she herself had stopped sewing, but hearing this family’s story prompted her to pick it back up again. She generously donated a sewing machine, creating a moment of shared healing and connection. Through this act, Omaira was able to offer more than a tangible item; she helped the mother feel heard and honored her cultural identity. Both women gained from the connection.”
RHA is grateful to be part of the expansion of Child First services because we know stories like these will continue as we make a difference in our communities by helping families flourish.
