Healthy Families America
Prevent Child Abuse America implemented Healthy Families America (HFA) in 1992, building on two decades of research in the field of home visitation. HFA is a nationally-recognized, voluntary service that connects overburdened expectant parents and parents of newborns with free child development assistance in their homes. Well-respected, extensively- trained assessment workers and home visitors provide valuable guidance, information and support to help parents be the best parents they can be. Based upon our years of experience and evidence-base, we know that home visiting promotes optimal long-term mental and physical health of parents and their children.
Services
All expectant parents and parents of newborns have common questions about their child’s development. A new baby can be both a welcome addition and a stressful time of family transition. HFA staff receive extensive training in a wide range of areas that provide the answers to parents’ questions on how to:
- Care for yourself during pregnancy;
- Soothe your crying baby;
- Ensure your child is receiving the right nutrition;
- Promote healthy child development and bonding; and
- Create a safe home environment.
“Having a child can be challenging… there are really no words to describe the feeling but having somebody, no, having a whole entire program full of encouragement makes every day easier.”
-HFA Participant
Healthy Families America Works
The benefits of HFA are proven, significant, and impact a wide range of child and family outcomes.
Improves Parenting Attitudes
HFA families show positive changes in their perspectives on parenting roles and responsibilities.
Promotes Positive Parent-Child Interaction
HFA parents demonstrate better communication with, and responsiveness to, their children. This interaction is an important factor in social and emotional readiness to enter school.
Increases Knowledge of Child Development
HFA parents learn about infant care and development; including child care, nutrition, and effective positive discipline.
Improves Family Health
HFA improves parents’ access to medical services, leading to high rates of well-baby visits and high immunization rates. HFA also helps increase breastfeeding, which is linked to many benefits for both babies and moms.
Supports a Quality Home Environment
HFA parents read to their children at early ages, provide appropriate learning materials, and are more involved in their child’s activities, all factors associated with positive child development.
Prevents Child Abuse and Neglect
HFA has a significant impact on preventing child maltreatment, particularly demonstrated in recent randomized control trials.
To learn more about HFA in your community, program basics, research reports and public policy efforts, please visit: healthyfamiliesamerica.org
Page content was sourced through materials provided by Healthy Families America.
Learn the Why Behind the Work We Do
When you understand the importance of a person’s earliest experiences, you understand the power we hold to create change in our community.