Are Home Visits Right For You?

 

If you are pregnant or a first time parent of a newborn, you are eligible for the services provided by one of your local home visitation programs (Healthy Families, Parents as Teachers, and Parents Are Teachers, Too).  Some programs accept new families with children who are up to three months of age, but many do not limit the age of your child when you join.
   Click on  the map to find a program near you.

Through the convenience of home visits the Healthy Families, Parents as Teachers, Parents Are Teachers, Too programs provide support and educational materials to help you create a safe, nurturing environment for your children.  

Are these programs right for me?

If you or your partner are a first-time parent or parent-to-be, the home visit services may help you learn to:

  • care for your baby and yourselves,

  • understand changes as your baby develops,

  • use community resources,

  • calm a crying baby,

  • create a safe environment for your baby,

  • seek medical care when needed, and

  • understand your child's needs.

How do the programs work?

A home visitor meets with you in your home to talk with you about your interests and needs as parents.  During the first meeting, the parent educator talks about what services will be available to you.  If you decide to become part of the Home Visitation program, you may be offered books, educational materials, videos and other tools that may be borrowed for use with your child and family.

What do I need to do during a home visit? 

It's easy!  Have your questions on hand and be ready to share your experiences about parenting and ask us what might be helpful to you.

What will the home visitor discuss with me? 

Depending on your needs the home visitor may discuss the following:

  • baby and child health care,

  • breastfeeding/formula feeding,

  • nutrition,

  • immunizations,

  • child growth and development,

  • child safety,

  • household safety,

  • childhood lead poisoning and prevention,

  • pregnancy,

  • WIC, and

  • any concerns you might have.

What else will the home visitor do? 

  • bring you free educational information to read,

  • talk to you about upcoming well-child visits and immunizations,

  • help you watch for developmental milestones, and  

  • inform you about and connect you with programs which offer help to parents.