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Family Home Visiting
Polk County Public Health offers visits for families by Public Health Nurses prenatally through early childhood. Family Home Visits are a voluntary service conducted to promote the healthy development and emotional well-being of families. Family Home Visiting supports parents in the role as their child’s first teacher. Home visits are relaxed, fun, interactive and done in the comfort of the families’ home, or at another location if preferred by the family.
What happens during a home visit?
A home visit includes a physical assessment of the child, including taking the child's weight. Education for moms and/or dads, guardians, and other caregivers, including topics such as:
- Infants, Toddlers, and those with Special Health Needs
- Breastfeeding support
- Safety, environment, and car seats
- Immunizations and Well Child Exams
- Infant and Toddler Development
- Sexual Health
- Rest, Exercise, and Nutrition
- Mental Health & Well-Being
Referrals for the family to community resources and other agency services such as:
- WIC
- Head Start
- Early Childhood Family Education
- Follow Along Program
- Mental Health
Helping Families Thrive
Home visitation has been an effective strategy for the delivery of public health services to families. Family home visiting programs are designed to foster healthy beginnings, improve pregnancy outcomes, promote school readiness, prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce juvenile delinquency, promote positive parenting and resiliency in children, and promote family health and economic self-sufficiency for children and families.