By The Division of Public Health Home Visiting Team In the past few issues of Thrive Quarterly, we have spotlighted individual champions from different programs. For this first issue of 2026, the DPH Home Visiting Team would like to shine the spotlight and give a huge thank you to each and every one of you within[…..]

By Julisa Arce We are excited to introduce our new Family Support Specialist, Tiffany Ambriz Duran! Tiffany brings valuable experience working with families and serving our community. She has a true passion for supporting children under age 3 during these important early developmental years. Tiffany is dedicated to building strong relationships with families and supporting[…..]

By Eunice Holman Through the Holiday Assistance Program, Westside Family Healthcare provided items to patients in New Castle County and Sussex County who were experiencing food insecurity and had children ages 5 and under. These families received a holiday food bag to help them enjoy a holiday meal with their loved ones. In addition, families[…..]

By Asaiah Beaman Fisher, Home Visiting Training and Support Coordinator, PCAD Professional development is more than checking a box — it’s about growth, grounding, and showing up stronger for families. That’s the spirit behind Prevent Child Abuse Delaware’s (PCAD) Wrap-Around Training Series. Join us for a collection of bite-sized, meaningful learning experiences built just for Delaware’s[…..]

Play Groups Are Back! Parents as Teachers Play Groups are open and welcoming families to come play, learn, and grow together. These free groups provide fun and engaging activities for children and their families, including: Story time and singing Sensory play Hands-on learning activities Interactive play opportunities Play Groups are open to parents and caregivers[…..]

By Asaiah Beaman Fisher, Home Visiting Training and Support Coordinator, PCAD At the core of Delaware’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) model is something powerful: the consultative stance. This stance is a way of engaging that values curiosity, connection, and collaboration. Unlike traditional models of training or therapy, IECMHC isn’t about one[…..]

By Asaiah Beaman Fisher, Home Visiting Training and Support Coordinator, PCAD What does it truly take to be an effective Family Support Specialist? How can we ensure consistency, clarity, and excellence across all Home Visiting Programs in Delaware? These are the driving questions behind the launch of the Home Visiting Core Competency Workgroup, a new[…..]

By Vik VishnubhaktaAs presented at the Home Visiting Community Advisory Board (HVCAB) meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, the Home Visiting Programs are addressing many of the identified needs for their enrolled families. This has been demonstrated by both robust program outcomes reported over time and home visiting satisfaction survey results. This data applies to Maternal,[…..]

During a recent call with a mom, Family Support Specialist Lea Attarian noticed that the parent sounded upset, even though the interpreter’s translation did not fully reflect that emotion. Wanting to ensure the family was supported, Lea reached out to her colleague, Angela Vazquez, whose first language is Spanish, to help clarify the parent’s concerns.[…..]

Exciting new partnerships are brewing at the Delaware Early Childhood Center Parents as Teachers and New Directions Early Head Start Home Visiting Programs! Starting in February, in partnership with the Laurel Library, a regular Stay & Play group will open! New partnerships with other community-based programs are still under construction, stay tuned for updates! Laurel Library[…..]

The New Castle County Parents as Teachers (PAT) family is very excited and grateful for the return of Dr. Whitney Williams as our supervisor. Her leadership and vision will steer us in 2026 and the future. Families returned after a two-week break in December and January to enjoy Play Groups at Stubbs EEC. Dads have[…..]

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) proudly recognized 14 graduates during the last quarter of 2025. This achievement reflects the dedication, resilience, and hard work of both our families and the nurses who support them every step of the way. Congratulations to all our families and their nurses! Your commitment continues to inspire us.

As we support families through Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), we want to take a moment to appreciate the fathers, dads, and father figures who strengthen our program by supporting our first-time moms. We’re grateful for every way you show up — like the dad who now sends his questions through Mom when work keeps him from[…..]

The DPH Home Visiting Team was interested in highlighting some of the fathers involved in the home visiting program. Theresa Mast is the Family Support Specialist for both dads, Will and Montel.  Theresa provides support and guidance for both families where these dads are actively engaged in the visits.  Both dads were asked if they[…..]

By Melissa Pitts, Tapp Network The Delaware Family Support Hub app celebrated a year of strong growth and engagement in 2025, demonstrating how the platform has become an essential tool for Delaware’s home visiting workforce. With 180 registered users across Home Visiting Programs, the Hub recorded more than 7,300 engagement events throughout the year. Family[…..]

By Emily A. Thompson We’re getting ready to kick off our second annual National Home Visiting Week celebration here in Delaware, happening April 20–24, 2026, and we have some exciting things planned! This week is all about recognizing and celebrating the dedication, compassion, and impact of home visiting professionals across our state and celebrating you.[…..]

By Asaiah Beaman Fisher (Home Visiting Training and Support Coordinator; PCAD) Home visiting professionals across Delaware are invited to mark their calendars for the upcoming January through June 2026 wraparound training series offered through Prevent Child Abuse Delaware (PCAD). The upcoming theme lineup will include: Prenatal Support Motivational Interviewing Child Abuse and Neglect 101 (with an informative[…..]

Child Trends — a leading research organization in the U.S. that focuses solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and families — reported that more and more families are receiving MIECHV funded visits compared to prior years. Access article here: MIECHV on Track to Provide 1 million Home Visits in 2025 – Child Trends

Home Visitor Highlight Theresa Mast, Assistant Program Manager, DECC Parents as Teachers  Theresa Mast has just completed her 15th year as a certified PAT Home Visitor — the past four years of that as the Assistant Program Manager with the DECC Parents as Teachers Program. Theresa has a special relationship with her families and recently was[…..]

By Marneda Bailey Rocio Mota De Marroquin, RN, is a bilingual nurse who is fluent in Spanish and joined Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) on August 18, 2025. Since then, she has demonstrated a strong ability to learn quickly and deep commitment to becoming an exceptional NFP nurse. Her positive work ethic is truly admirable. Rocio[…..]

By VIk Vishnubhakta, MBA/MPH In 2023, the Delaware Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Structural and Social Determinants of Health (SSDOH) Innovation Project launched to strengthen referral linkages between evidence-based home visiting programs (HFA, PAT, NFP) and community health worker (CHW) agencies. The project involved bridging gaps between home visiting and community support systems, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, improving SSDOH response, and sustaining family[…..]

By Asaiah Beaman Fisher (Home Visiting Training and Support Coordinator; PCAD)  As a home visitor, you are the heart of your program. You show up for families every day, offering encouragement, guidance, and care through every milestone and challenge. But in order to pour into others, you must refill your own cup. That’s where wrap-around[…..]

The Second Annual National Home Visiting Week (NHVW), April 20–24, 2026, is a yearly observance to recognize and celebrate home visitors and the amazing impact they make on maternal and child health outcomes.  The Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, an organization focused on strengthening home visiting and human service programs across the[…..]

It’s time for the United Way of Delaware and 211 Help Me Grow 5th Annual Coats of Cheer: Winter Wonderland Extravaganza!  

By Julisa Arce  The UD Home Visiting team hosted a wonderful socialization event at Carousel Park. Crystal Wilson led and organized the event. Congratulations to her for a great job! We had a wonderful turnout and were so happy to see families connecting and enjoying time together outdoors. Our team even provided transportation for a[…..]