What is a Home Visit? Understanding Its Purpose and Benefits

As a new or expectant parent, it's natural to have questions and concerns about your child's health, development, and well-being. While there is a wealth of information out there, it can be overwhelming to navigate it all. That's why home visits from Healthy Families America® (HFA®) are such an incredible resource for new and expectant parents living in Douglas and Sarpy County.

Home visits offer a unique opportunity for families to receive one-on-one guidance from a trained professional in the comfort of their own homes. Not only does this allow for more effective communication and problem-solving, but it can also help ensure that the family’s individual needs are being met in order to boost overall well-being.

Research has shown that home visits can have a significant positive impact on family dynamics, promoting improved communication between parents and children as well as increased levels of trust between family members.

In addition, home visits can aid in identifying potential risks and preventative measures while providing helpful resources regarding financial stability, education, health services, and other areas related to family life.

The Benefits of Home Visits for Families

Home visits from Healthy Families America® (HFA®) have many benefits for new and expectant parents living in Douglas and Sarpy County. These home visits provide access to a multitude of support services that can help families ensure their children get the care and guidance they need during their early stages of life. Here are three benefits of home visits for families:

Knowledge sharing. During a home visit, parents are able to learn more about parenting skills from trained HFA staff, who will share valuable information with them about the development and health of their children. The HFA staff member will also share information on topics like nutrition, infant health, safety at home and in the community, and how to establish good relationships with medical providers. This hands-on approach helps strengthen parental confidence by providing accurate information on the resources available to families living in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

Emotional support. HFA staff members provide a level of support that can be difficult to find elsewhere. They create an atmosphere of trust where parents feel comfortable discussing their concerns, stressors, or any other issues they may be dealing with related to parenting or family life. This type of support has been proven to reduce levels of depression among new mothers, which is important for promoting healthy child development within the family unit.

Improved access to community resources. The HFA staff can connect families with local organizations that offer assistance programs such as food banks, health insurance coverage, childcare subsidies, job training opportunities, mental health services, and more. Parents are able to better provide for themselves and their children without having to worry about navigating complex bureaucratic systems alone.

Overall, the home visits offered by Healthy Families America® (HFA®) give new and expecting parents in Douglas and Sarpy County increased knowledge about various aspects of parenting as well as emotional support when needed most, all while connecting them with invaluable community resources that play an essential role in helping them raise strong children who can thrive in their environment now and into adulthood.

Bonus Content: What To Expect During A Home Visit Infographic

Preparing for Your Home Visit - Tips and Strategies

When you are expecting a home visit from Healthy Families America®, it is important to take steps to ensure the visit is beneficial for both you and your family. Here are some tips and strategies to help prepare for your home visit:

Be Present and Try to Eliminate Distractions

To prepare for your visit, consider turning off the TV, putting away your phone or other devices, and minimizing external interruptions as much as possible. This will help you stay focused on your child and create a calming environment that is conducive to open communication and learning.

Remember, this visit is an opportunity to connect with a caring home visitor who is here to help you navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood. By being present, engaged, and attentive during the visit, you can help ensure that you get the information and support you need to help your child succeed.

Keep an Open Mind

Home visits are all about the developmental needs and growth of your child. So, make sure you're ready to engage your child in play and activities during the visit. This will give the home visitor a chance to observe your child's behavior, language development, and motor skills, which will then help shape the information and support provided to you during the visit.

Make sure to ask questions and share concerns about your child, as this is a valuable opportunity to gain insight from the home visitor who can share information you may need.

Remember, home visits are all about fostering a happy, healthy, and enriched environment for your child. By being open, present, and engaged during the visit, you can build a strong relationship with the home visitor and ensure that you get the most out of this home visit.

By following these simple tips and strategies, parents can feel more confident about their upcoming home visits from Healthy Families America®. Taking these steps will ensure that each visit helps them get closer to achieving their goals related to parenting and providing a supportive environment for their children’s growth and development.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Visit Experience

One of the best ways to get the most out of your Healthy Families America® home visit experience is to be prepared. Parents who come to their visits with questions and topics in mind are more typically likely to receive tailored, helpful information from their home visitor.

Before your visit, take some time to consider what you would like to talk about, such as parenting strategies, nutrition, meal-planning tips, or general resources that could benefit you and your family. If you aren’t sure what you’d like to discuss, don’t worry! Your home visitor will come prepared with information to share and activities to do with your child. The weight isn’t on you to determine what’s discussed in your visit, but it can be helpful if you have specific topics in mind you’d like to chat about. When speaking with your home visitor, don’t be afraid to ask questions or voice any concerns you may have. This will help ensure that you get the most out of each visit.

Communicating regularly with your Healthy Families America® home visitor is another great way to get the most out of your home visits. Keeping an open dialogue between appointments will allow you and your home visitor to track progress toward important milestones even when not physically meeting in person.

You can use this opportunity to communicate any successes or challenges you may have faced since the last visit, as well as discuss any areas where additional guidance may be needed. Additionally, regular communication gives both parties a chance to address any changes in family dynamics or needs that might warrant extra attention during future home visits.

Finally, it is essential for parents receiving home visits from Healthy Families America® to make sure that they are taking full advantage of available resources beyond just those provided during your home visit.

Home visits are a valuable tool in providing personalized support to families in need. By making use of this unique service, families can gain access to tools and receive referrals for resources. A trained specialist would be glad to guide you through the process and provide even more strategies for making the best use of this important form of support.

At NCHS, we strive to equip every family in need with meaningful resources and information tailored just for them! Reach out to us today.