Healthy Families provides voluntary home visits to families to promote healthy parent-child relationships and prevent child abuse and neglect. During home visits, staff provide education on child development, parenting skills, access to community resources, and screenings to track family health and development. The program aims to address factors that contribute to child maltreatment like parental mental health, stress, and isolation. Evaluation tools are used to measure child development and refer families to early intervention services when needed.
2. + Healthy Families mission:
To support the empowerment of families by
teaching skills in parent-child interaction
and problem solving,
while encouraging
self-sufficiency
and healthy
parent-child
relationships
through
voluntary
home visits
3. +
In 2013, Healthy Families
Served: Children
Provided: Home Visits
Made: Community Referrals4047
7319
892
4. + Healthy Families was founded
to decrease the prevalence of
child abuse and neglect
In 2011:
9 out of every 1000 children experienced maltreatment
41 of 1000, or 3 million children, were involved with CPS
78% of child maltreatment is neglect
-Data from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
5. +
Young children experience the
highest rate of maltreatment
21 of 1000 babies under 1 year
experienced maltreatment
Of all victims, 27% are under age 3
and 19% are age 3-5
82% of fatalities related to child
abuse or neglect were suffered by
children under 4
6. + ACE study:
Analyzes relationship between childhood trauma and the risk for
physical and mental illness in adulthood.
It is critical to understand how some of the worst health and social
problems in our nation can arise as a consequence of adverse
childhood experiences.
Realizing these connections is likely to improve efforts towards
prevention and recovery.
Studied over
17,000 middle-class
adults from the US
7. + The study looks at 10 Adverse
Childhood Experiences
(though there are many more)
Abuse:
Recurrent physical abuse
Recurrent emotional abuse
Recurrent sexual abuse
Living in a household where:
Alcohol and drugs were used
A household member was
incarcerated
Someone was chronically depressed,
mentally ill, or suicidal
The mother was treated violently
One biological parent was not
available to the child—parents
divorced or separated
Neglect:
Emotional neglect
Physical neglect
8. + Higher ACE scores related to
serious health problems
Healthy Families America estimates that 60% of mothers
enrolled in the program have scores of 4 or higher
Individuals with ACE scores over 4 are:
260% more likely to develop lung disease
240% more likely to use intravenous drugs
250% more likely to contract an STD
460% more likely to experience depression
9. +
Child factors:
Perceived as being different or special needs
Irritable, difficult temperaments
Premature, low birth weight
Contributing factors for
Child Abuse and Neglect
Parent/Caregiver factors:
Depression
Lack of support
Low self-esteem
Substance abuse
Multiple life stressors
History of abuse/neglect
Relationship issues/domestic violence
Unrealistic developmental expectations
Environmental factors:
Unsafe communities
Social isolation
Inadequate financial resources
10. +
Healthy Families strategies:
Promoting healthy parent-child interaction and attachment
Increasing knowledge of child development and appropriate
expectations of children
Reducing social
isolation
Improving use of
preventive health care
Providing access to
community resources
for families
11. + Positive Parent-Child
Interactions
Children who have secure
Attachments early on:
Develop stronger self-esteem and
better self-reliance
Tend to be more independent
Perform better in school
Have successful social relationships
Experience less depression
and anxiety
The first 3 years of a baby’s life are the most important for development
12. + Health/Safety
Education
Initial Safety Topics: SIDS, safe sleep, blunt force trauma, who is
watching the baby, smoking, fire safety, poison safety, shaken baby
syndrome, etc.
Assist families in obtaining
and tracking Well Child
checks and immunizations
Update on any community
outbreaks or concerns
Educate about baby proofing
13. +
Basic Child Development
and Education
Parenting is the most important, but most
difficult job, anyone can have. Our aim is to
support parents through this journey.
During our time together we discuss:
Milestones and growth
Stress reduction
Soothing babies
Identifying cues
Toilet training
Discipline
And much more
14. + Addressing Family
Challenges
Finding Employment
Finances
Organization
Substance Abuse
Mental Health
Healthy Relationships
Domestic Violence
Sometimes we all need a little more social support and education.
15. +
Family Goal Planning
The 3 MMM’S:
Mission (Specific)
Mini (Achievable)
Measurable
Support (System)
We teach problem solving skills through the process of goal
planning, setting, and executing throughout our
program journey with the families.
18. + Tools to measure child
development:
ASQ-3: Administered at 2, 4, 8,
12, 24, 30, and 36
ASQ-SE: Screen given at months
6,12, 18, 24, 30 and 36
Scored and discussed with
parents during home visit
Referrals made to First Steps
or doctor
20. +
How Healthy Families and First
Steps can work together:
First Steps can refer clients who are pregnant with another
child so that we can provide extra support
Healthy Families can encourage and help
parents to work toward their First Step goals
Healthy Families and First Steps can
communicate what development activities are
being done so they can build on each other