Healthy Families America (HFA) is one of the leading family support and evidence-based home visiting programs in the United States. Early, nurturing relationships are the foundation for healthy development.
Healthy Families America (HFA) is a home visiting program that can help you:
- Have a Healthy Pregnancy,
- Have a Healthy Baby,
- Have a Strong Relationship with your Children
- Learn and practice Positive Parenting.
Families can enroll in the program free of charge to the family, referrals can come from all sources. Healthy Families America program is sponsored by the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.
The OEC focuses on three key outcomes:
• Improving healthy births for babies and mothers;
• Improving child development and parenting practices; and
• Reducing child maltreatment.
Prioritizing:
• Prenatal enrollments;
• Mothers and fathers under the age of 20;
• Mothers and fathers who come from racial/ethnic communities disproportionately likely to experience adverse birth outcomes.
HFA offers FREE confidential home visits and support during pregnancy and up until your baby turns three years old. Sessions are provided in your home or community in English, Spanish or Creole.
The data has shown that parents who participate in HFA help children experience less adverse childhood issues, demonstrate long-term academic improvement and are overall healthier. When implemented early enough, it is proven that by participating in the HFA program, children are born with healthier birth rates, less developmental complications, and have less incidents with child neglect and abuse.
One of the best features of the HFA program is the fact that it supports families in the home and focuses on building a safe environment, a nurturing atmosphere, builds strong parent/child bonds and offers opportunities to the family and all of the children. Children start to build relationships prior to their birth. They have the ability to hear before they are born. It is important to work with pregnant moms so that they learn all about good prenatal care and about healthy parenting. The more time spent with the moms prior to the birth the better. Education is key to the child’s success in all cases. HFA embraces child development and creates long-term goals for the family unit. By working on all of these elements, we are reducing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
HFA has proved to have positive outcomes for children and families, including reductions in child abuse and neglect. The evidence has been illustrated across an array of independent studies, including randomized control trial and quasi-experimental studies. The results from the studies have indicated that the use of the HFA program shows a decrease in child maltreatment. Key positive outcomes are noted in the studies such as; improved school readiness, reduced child abuse and neglect, an increase in family functioning and self-sufficiency, and broad health benefits.
For more information of Healthy Families America program:
Healthyfamiliesamerica.org
HFA Handout-EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS
HFA Child Abuse and Neglect Evidence Brief Handout
Referral Form