Information for Pregnant or Parenting Families - Family Support Programs

Content

What are home visiting programs?

As parents, we all need a little support. Babies don't come with an instruction manual. Home visiting programs are voluntary programs provided at no cost to your family that will give you support through visits in your home by a home visitor. Your home visit will provide information and support about parenting, your child's health and development, walk you through healthy coping strategies for stressful parenting situations, and connect you with any needed services in the community (such as health care, job training).

New York State offers a variety of home visiting programs that support families during pregnancy and early childhood. Find a program near you.

What can I expect during a visit with my home visitor?

Your home visitor will work with you to set up a schedule and provide support to you in your home.

Through support and coaching, your home visitor will help improve your family's well-being and provide the best opportunities for your child(ren) through:

  • Connecting to resources and services in your community to help with housing, healthcare, education, employment, and childcare
  • Connecting to other parents in your community
  • Help to track your baby's development month by month during pregnancy and after birth
  • Support with breastfeeding and caring for your baby
  • Working with you to make caring for your baby a joyful experience
  • Healthy coping strategies for when you don't know why your baby is crying
  • Help to understand child developmental milestones and behaviors
  • Encouragement with positive parenting techniques
  • Goal setting for yourself and your family
  • Assistance with confusing forms and processes and managing needs and demands that may seem overwhelming

Is a home visiting program right for me?

Anyone who is pregnant or parenting a young child would benefit from home visiting. It is a great resource for families who are:

  • Pregnant
  • Parents or caregivers of children who have not yet started kindergarten
  • In need of support with being a parent of multiple children
  • In need of support to help make sure their child is ready to start school
  • In the military and far from family and friends
  • In need of help with getting back together after being apart

Find a Home Visiting Program near you

Parenting resources

Growing Up Healthy Hotline: Find Services for Parents and Parents-to-Be Throughout New York State

Contact the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 or through TTY access at 1-800-655-1789. All calls are confidential. An operator will help identify available services and provide information on how to locate a provider in your area.

NYS Parent Guide website: The Parent Guide for children and their caregivers: Starting life together

This is your guide for parenting. It is the story of the first five years of your parenting journey. Whether you are the mother or father (through birth, adoption, or foster care), a grandparent, partner, family friend, aunt or uncle with parenting responsibilities, what you say and do in your role as a parent matters.