In the state of Utah, there are so many opportunities for community events and programs! One program in the state that we like to recommend to families are the Home Visiting Programs. The Utah State Department of Health and Human Services runs these programs to provide evidence-based models to help families with children in Utah! They use their programs and tailor them to family’s needs to support families on their new parenting journey and help with child development and learning. To learn more about their mission visit their website here.
One of the amazing programs that they have is called Parents as Teachers or PAT for short. This home visitation program provides one-on-one support to parents with young kids. They focus on supporting parents during the early years of development, which is from when a baby is born to the age of 5. They work with families so that they can help them build additional simple child development skills and help to look for early signs of a developmental delay. But they also work to improve the well-being of the whole family and try to look out for community resources that could help families’ situations based on what they need. Here is their website so you can learn more about what they can do for you, it is also a great source to find programs in your area.
These programs are statewide, so there will be one for your county. One of the things that you can expect from a home visiting program is home visits each month with a parent educator. These individuals are trained to help you with concerns that you have and work to help you with your child’s development. Programs can also offer family connections with other families in the area, and age-appropriate screenings or assessments. These assessments are meant to see if a child is on track with their development. Taking the screening allows parents to see what areas of development their children might be struggling in so we can work to strengthen those areas!
When you get set up with Home Visiting programs they can begin doing home visits with you. These home visits can take place in a family’s home so that it is most convenient for you. But if you are not comfortable with that, a visit can be planned somewhere else that will work best for you and your family.
The eligibility requirements for Home visiting programs and Parents As Teachers can be slightly different for each program. All programs try to be open to many different family experiences and situations. Families who qualify for Medicaid and/or WIC can qualify for services. They offer services for first-time, single, or teen parents. They also offer services for children who have a health condition or were born prematurely. You can reach out to Help Me Grow Utah to ask more about the program in your area!
Another great part of the Home Visiting Program is the Nurse Family Partnership. This program is for first time mothers. During their pregnancy and until the child turns two years old a first time mother can receive support. They are connected with a nurse who will come and visit. These visits, depending on the location of the program and the mother’s needs, could be weekly visits to monthly visits. During these visits, they work to answer questions that mothers might have as well as help them to make goals for their future. They aim to help women become great mothers.
For more information about the Parents as Teachers program or other Home Visiting programs in your area reach out to your Parent Support Specialist! Even if you would just like to learn more about the specific home visiting program around you, we are happy to help. You can also call or text our Help Me Grow Number at (801) 691-5322.
We are happy to answer any questions you might have or send in a referral for your family to a home visiting program. When we send in a referral it means that you permit us to share your information including your contact information, names, and ages of your children. We will send this to the home visiting program and from there the home visiting program will reach out to you to help you get connected to what you need!
