Home Visiting
Evidence-Based Home Visiting
The Home Visiting Program welcomes families who are expecting a baby or have a young child at home up to age five (5) years. Learn more today by dialing 2-1-1 for Help Me Grow.
What is Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV)?
Evidence-based home visiting is a voluntary free service for pregnant women and families with children up to age five (5) years. A Family Support Specialist will get to know you so that they can offer tailored support services to meet you and your family’s needs. They can offer ways to help create a safe and healthy environment for your young child to thrive in, helping you understand your child’s development and connecting you with additional community resources.
In Delaware there are four Home Visiting programs:
Westside Family Healthcare
A Community Health Worker (CHW) through Quality Insights Delaware helps women to get and stay healthy by linking them to key resources to meet specific needs related to the Social Determinants of Health. CHWs complement a woman’s healthcare team by addressing food insecurity, transportation, housing needs, and much more.
You can dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898211 for Help Me Grow to find a home visiting service nearby.
Where Do Home Visits Take Place?
Families can choose when and where the visit happens. The Family Support Specialist can come to your home or a location of your choice. It is important that families feel safe and comfortable during the visit and have a sense of security knowing the Family Support Specialist is there for them every step of the way.
What Happens During a Home Visit?
The Family Support Specialist will work with the family to achieve their goals and can help during pregnancy and once baby comes. Each visit can happen weekly, every other week, or monthly depending on the family’s needs. Families will learn about a variety of topics related to caring for themselves and their children, such as:
Healthy pregnancy practices and preparing for labor and delivery Breastfeeding, safe sleep, preventing unintended child injuries, and healthy nutrition Identifying their baby’s needs at different stages of development and doing activities with them that are appropriate for their age Promoting early language development and early learning at home Setting goals for the future, continuing education, finding employment, and childcare solutions Connecting families with other services and resources in the community
57% of infants 6 to 12 months of age (who had been enrolled in home visiting for at least six months) were breastfed.
81.5% of prenatally enrolled mothers received a postpartum care visit within three months of delivery.
73% of infants under 12 months of age were always put to sleep safely. We’ve made tremendous improvements here.
Why Join the Home Visiting Program?
Being a parent is great, but it can also be hard. Home Visiting programs provide support to families to help their children grow, learn, and thrive. The benefits for families participating in the program have been clear and families have experienced improved maternal and child health, earlier detection of possible developmental delays or disabilities, improvement in school readiness and achievement, regular health care provider visits, and reduction in stress levels.
Hear from Family Support Specialists and Moms in the Home Visiting Program!
Get Help With Enrollment
Call 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898211 for Help Me Grow. A Help Me Grow call specialist can answer questions about the Home Visiting Programs and can start the enrollment process for families if they choose to join.
Help Me Grow can also provide information and referrals to other community resources or services that a family may need.
Home Visiting Referral Form
Download or submit this form online to refer clients or yourself to the home visiting program.
Download
Part of the Home Visiting Toolkit
Home Visiting Referral Form(8.5"x11")
Submit Online
Providers & Community Partners
More information and materials for clinicians and professionals dedicated to helping children grow up healthy.
Home Visiting for Providers & Community PartnersRelated Blog Posts
View more posts in Home Visiting
Additional Resources
Below are resources and outside services that can help.
Home Visiting “Did You Know” Fact Sheet
Everything parents, patients, and providers need to know about Home Visiting services, in a simple, easy-to-read fact sheet.
Delaware Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe, and ready to learn by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from prenatal through kindergarten.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms. Available in English and Spanish.
Delaware's American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
This is a link to Delaware’s American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) page. Any first time user will have to register but it targets Physicians so they could take webinars and learn about any updated early childhood efforts happening in the state.
Order materials