Home Visiting

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Funded Programs

OEC is seeking proposals for evidence-based home visiting programs

We’re seeking proposals from private and public organizations to implement home visiting programs that prioritize prenatal and infant enrollment using an evidence based home visiting model. OEC is seeking to develop a home visiting system that promotes healthy births, enhances child development and positive parenting practices, and prevents child maltreatment. See the full RFP details.

Home visiting programs improve the health of young children by providing support and services for them and their families — right in their own homes. These programs reach pregnant women, expectant fathers, and parents and caregivers of children under the age of 5.

Connecticut offers 6 different types of home visiting programs that are evidence-based. Each type of program is designed to meet the unique needs of many families with young children:

  1. Parents as Teachers: Teaching parents about early childhood
  2. Child First: Supporting children and families experiencing multiple challenges
  3. Nurse-Family Partnership: Connecting first-time parents with nurses
  4. Family Check-up: Helping parents understand and address difficult behavior
  5. Early Head Start Home-Based Option: Building healthy habits to support school readiness
  6. Minding the Baby: Supporting the emotional and physical health of families with young children

Parents as Teachers: Teaching parents about early childhood 

Parents as Teachers helps families learn about child development, health and safety, and getting their child ready to start school. Parents as Teachers weekly home visits can start anytime before the child starts kindergarten, including during a parent’s pregnancy.  

Child First: Supporting children and families experiencing multiple challenges

Child First helps families who are dealing with more than one type of stress at once — like not having enough income, violence in the home, or a mental health issue. Child First home visits can start any time during a child’s first 5 years, including during a parent’s pregnancy. Services usually continue for 6 to 12 months. 

Nurse-Family Partnership: Connecting first-time parents with nurses 

Nurse-Family Partnership helps first-time, low-income parents have a healthy pregnancy and birth by pairing them with specially trained nurses. Nurse-Family Partnership home visit routines start early in the parent’s pregnancy and continue through the child’s second birthday. 

Family Check-up: Helping parents understand and address difficult behavior

Family Check-up helps families find the cause of their child’s difficult behavior and teaches parents ways to support their child’s positive growth and development. Family Check-up weekly home visits are for families with children ages 2 to 6. 

Early Head Start Home-Based Option: Building healthy habits to support school readiness

The Early Head Start Home-Based Option helps families with children in Early Head Start set healthy routines and habits with weekly visits. Home visitors and parents watch the child together, then talk about what the child needs to succeed. The home-based option is for families with children from birth to age 5. 

Minding the Baby: Supporting the emotional and physical health of families with young children

Minding the Baby helps young, often first-time parents by providing regular visits from a nurse and a mental health professional. The collaboration between the nurse, mental health professional, and family is designed to reduce the physical and mental effects of chronic stress. Minding the Baby home visit routines last at least 30 months, from before birth through the child’s second birthday.

Last updated March 9, 2021