Healthy Families America strengthens families by promoting positive parenting, enhancing child health and development, and preventing child abuse and neglect. Research shows this model:
Reduces abuse and neglect in the household by increasing the quality of the home environment and decreasing the likelihood of using violence as a form of punishment.
- Healthy Families America increases the quality of the home environment, improves parent-child interactions, and decreases the likelihood of using violence in the household as a form of punishment [LeCroy, C. W., & Lopez, D. (2020). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Healthy Families: 6-Month and 1-Year Follow-Up. Prevention Science, 21(1), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-018-0931-4]
- Mothers who participate in Healthy Families America experience lower levels of parenting related stress, which is a common factor of child maltreatment [Green, B. L., Tarte, J. M., Harrison, P. M., Nygren, M., & Sanders, M. B. (2014). Results from a Randomized Trial of the Healthy Families Oregon Accredited Statewide Program: Early Program Impacts on Parenting. Children and Youth Services Review, 44, 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.06.006]
- Healthy Families America improves parenting attitudes and practices associated with child maltreatment, as well as increases children’s levels of social and emotional competence [Cullen, J. P., Ownbey, J. B., & Ownbey, M. A. (2010). The Effects of the Healthy Families America Home Visitation Program on Parenting Attitudes and Practices and Child Social and Emotional Competence. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 27(5), 335-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-010-0206-9]
Improves maternal and child health by increasing rates of breastfeeding, expanding access and utilization of preventive care services (such as health insurance coverage, wellness visits, and immunizations), and lowering stress related to parenting.
- HFA increases rates of breast feeding and improves maternal mental health regarding positive affect and problem-solving ability [LeCroy, C. W., & Lopez, D. (2020). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Healthy Families: 6-Month and 1-Year Follow-Up. Prevention Science, 21(1), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-018-0931-4]
- HFA participation increases access and utilization of preventive care services, including health insurance coverage, wellness visits, and immunizations [Green, B., Sanders, M. B., & Tarte, J. M. (2020). Effects of Home Visiting Program Implementation on Preventive Health Care Access and Utilization: Results from a Randomized Trial of Healthy Families Oregon. Prevention Science, 21(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-018-0964-8]
Healthy Families America serves families in 8 counties.