YCP Nursing Students and Community Partners Lead Way at Community Baby Shower
For a group of local parents, a simple receiving blanket became a masterclass in safety this Spring, guided by the steady, enthusiastic hands of York College nursing students and experts from partnering organizations from across Pennsylvania.
The Gunter-Smith Center for Community Engagement (CCE) was transformed into a vibrant hub of education, connection, and celebration for the York County Lead Task Force Community Baby Shower. Moving past standard textbooks, these future nurses stepped up to give York’s youngest citizens the safest, healthiest start to life possible.
The free event offered a sweeping array of educational resources, on-site lead testing, a baby food making class, CPR demonstrations, and even raffles for essentials like car seats and baby gates. But at the heart of the bustling room were York College of Pennsylvania nursing students, turning their academic training into real-world compassionate care.
Students from Community Health Nursing, Pediatrics, and OB/GYN courses lined the hall, eager to share their knowledge on everything from nutrition to maternal mental health resources.
Hands-On Guidance for New Parents
At the "Swaddling Your Newborn" table, senior nursing students Kayla Dolison and Pearo Wulff-Nortey, both graduating this upcoming December, met with new and expectant parents to demonstrate crucial comfort techniques.
"Swaddling is really to soothe the baby," explained Dolison, who notes that while she plans to work in the ICU post-graduation, her Labor and Delivery clinical has been her most impactful. "They’ve been in the womb for a long time, and now they are exposed to different environments. So this is meant to keep them safe and calm."
Dolison emphasized that showing parents how to successfully soothe a newborn is a critical step in preventing caregiver frustration and preventing tragic outcomes like shaken baby syndrome.
Wulff-Nortey, who plans to dive straight into a Labor and Delivery career, watched parents practice the folds. "Swaddling gives the baby the feel of being in the womb. It soothes them and makes them feel like someone is holding them," she said. Reflecting on her path, she added, "I love it so much because of the babies and mothers, and just helping them. I got to witness a birth as part of my clinical, and it was so beautiful to see the joy on their faces."
Just a few tables over, senior nursing student Morgan Obiezue spent her afternoon educating women on recognizing the early signs of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, heartburn, and reflux.
"This is important because the uterus makes some of the biggest changes in the first trimester," Obiezue said. "It’s vital for a mother to recognize that, so she can take the appropriate care for herself and her baby as it grows. I hope those who come to the baby shower today see how important it is to take care of yourself, make sure you are going to all the prenatal visits, taking all the precautions, and doing what you can to have a healthy pregnancy."
Tackling Critical Community Health Issues
Beyond the basics of infant care, the event also leaned into preventing local environmental health hazards, most notably childhood lead poisoning.
Janet Panning, a consultant with the Lead Free Promise Project, was on hand to highlight the hidden dangers built into the local geography.
“Lead poisoning early on, it damages your brain; it’s a neurotoxin. You can’t stop the damage. You can try to get the lead out of your system, but the damage is already done," Panning warned. "So if we can prevent children from being exposed to lead, we are well ahead of the game.”
Panning said, in general, Pennsylvania sees fewer than 40% of its children under age six tested for lead, yet among those tested, roughly 12,000 are identified with elevated blood lead levels annually. Because York and Pennsylvania feature an abundance of older homes built before lead paint was banned in 1978, the threat of exposure from peeling paint and toxic dust remains incredibly high.
"The older the house, the worse the problem likely is," Panning said.
Yet, amidst these sobering statistics, Panning emphasized that a simple blood test is the most powerful tool a parent has. Finding out early changes everything. When parents get their children tested, they gain the vital knowledge needed to step in immediately, whether that means deep cleaning dust, switching to lead-safe water filters, or working with local programs to fix old paint. Regular testing turns an invisible threat into a manageable situation, giving families the upper hand to intervene before a child’s development is impacted, ensuring a bright, healthy future.
The Power of Collaboration
Pulling together an initiative of this scale required deep organizational roots. Jessica Zartman, Director of the Urban Collaborative at the CCE, helped organize the event and watched the community-wide turnout with immense gratitude.
"An event like the Community Baby Shower is vital because equity in health starts before a child is even born," Zartman said. "By bringing maternal and infant healthcare resources directly into our neighborhoods, we can help break down barriers to access. It’s about meeting families exactly where they are, surrounding them with support, and ensuring every parent has the tools and confidence they need to give their child a safe, healthy start in life."
The massive network of participating community partners included the PA Department of Health, Family First Health, WellSpan, the York County Planning Commission, Job Corps, and Community Connections for Children, among many others.
For Carly Legg-Wood, Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement, the baby shower represents the exact blueprint for what York College aims to achieve in the region.
"At York College, we are deeply woven into the community," Legg-Wood remarked. "True community impact cannot happen in a vacuum. It relies entirely on sustainable, trusted partnerships. Having our nursing students step out of the classroom to work hand in hand with local organizations at the CCE demonstrates the real power in collaboration. We are proud to serve as an anchor where education meets community action."
As families left the Gunter-Smith Center with arms full of donated children's books, safety gear, and invaluable advice, the collective impact was clear. The event was a testament to what can happen when passionate student nurses and dedicated regional advocates unite to protect York’s youngest citizens.
