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. On this page, you can:
- Learn about the 5 types of home visiting programs in Connecticut
- Use our interactive map to find a home visiting program in your area
Sparkler is a mobile app that helps parents to check in on how their child is doing against key milestones — and provides activities to spark their early learning. Learn more about Sparkler.
Types of home visiting programs
Connecticut offers 5 different types of home visiting programs that are evidence-based. Each type is designed to meet the unique needs of many families with young children.
- Parents as Teachers: Teaching parents about early childhood
- Child First: Supporting children and families experiencing multiple challenges
- Nurse-Family Partnership: Connecting first-time parents with nurses
- Early Head Start Home-Based Option: Building healthy habits to support school readiness
- Healthy Families America (HFA)
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.
- See a list of Parents as Teachers programs in CT
- Find out more about the Parents as Teachers approach to home visiting
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.
- See a list of Child First programs in CT
- Find out more about the Child First approach to home visiting
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.
- See a list of Nurse-Family Partnership programs in CT
- Find out more about the Nurse-Family Partnership approach to home visiting
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.
- See a list of Early Head Start Home-Based programs in CT
- Find out more about the Early Head Start Home-Based approach to home visiting
Healthy Families America (HFA)
HFA supports families in the home using a strength-based approach — building on a family’s existing knowledge, skills, and values — to support healthy childhood growth, promote positive parent-child relationships, and build stronger families. HFA offers most families services for at least 3 years, including weekly visits at the start. Find out more about HFA’s approach.
Find a home visiting program in your area
To find contact information for home visiting programs in your area, use our interactive map or the dropdown menu.