We believe that every parent wants to be the best parent possible. So we extend our services to where parenting happens most: the home.
At Lund, we offer parent coaching and child development education to families in their own homes. Visiting with families at home allows our family educators to form relationships that help to overcome feelings of isolation or reluctance to ask for parenting help.
We offer two different Strong Families Vermont home visiting models: Responsive Home Visiting Model and Parents as Teachers (PAT) Sustained Home Visiting Model. In both models, trained professionals meet with families in their homes to strengthen families’ health, wellbeing and parenting skills. Responsive Home Visiting provides regular home visits in response to time-limited needs and shorter-term goals; while PAT is intended to provide long-term support and is more programmatically outlined.
Watch this 30-second Client Testimonial about the Strong Families Vermont Home Visiting Program.
Wondering which model is best suited to you or your client?
Responsive Home Visiting
During a home visit, the family educator offers the support and information that the family needs for their children to thrive. A family educator helps the family identify specific needs and develop parenting goals. The family educator can help assess and provide support and resources for the child’s development, engage in play to support the child’s development, and help the parents build social connections.
Timeline: Depending on the needs and wishes of the family, a visit can happen only once or twice, or visits can occur on an ongoing weekly basis. Visits can happen in the community or at home, depending on the family’s goals and preferences.
Outcome Goals:
- Parents feel confident and supported
- Children are safe
- Children are receiving the necessary developmental opportunities to ensure age-appropriate growth
Eligibility:
- Pregnant person within 6 weeks of giving birth or has a child less than 6 years old
- Pregnant person or child is eligible for Medicaid
Get Connected:
- Referrals for home visits come from a variety of sources, including physicians, schools, social service agencies, the faith community, and families themselves.
- To learn more about this free home visiting program, please reach out to Kierin Williams at kierinw@lundvt.org or 802.861.2573
- If you would like to make a referral, download and fill out this form; email the completed form to Kierin Williams at kierinw@lundvt.org.
Parents as Teachers Sustained Home Visiting
Parents as Teachers is an internationally known evidence-based home visiting program. There are four dynamic components to the Parents as Teachers Model: Personal Visits, Group Connections, Resource Network, and Child and Caregiver Screening.
Certified Parent Educators focus on understanding each family’s specific strengths. The goals that parent educators and families set together are informed by, but not limited to, the findings of family-centered assessment and child screening. Each goal should focus on one of the three areas of emphasis: parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being.
Parent Educators offer case management, parent education, care coordination, screening and assessment, group connections, and resource support and referrals during visits.
Timeline: PAT is delivered long-term to families through regular and consistent visits through age five.
Outcome goals:
- Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices
- Provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues
- Prevent child abuse and neglect
- Increase children’s school readiness and school success
Eligibility:
- People can enroll during pregnancy or when expecting a newborn, and at any point postpartum through the child’s fifth year
- Must be enrolled in VT Medicaid
Get Connected:
- Referrals for home visits come from a variety of sources, including physicians, schools, social service agencies, the faith community, and families themselves.
- To learn more about this free home visiting program, please reach out to Kim Laroche at kiml@lundvt.org
Home visiting services through Lund are part of the State of Vermont’s Children’s Integrated Services (CIS), which provides an array of services delivered through a network of Vermont organizations that coordinate services for child development, family support and connection to resources.
Lund’s Children’s Services program is supported by the United Way of Northwest Vermont.
