Pregnant? Have a new baby?
Join HANDS! HANDS is a FREE service providing parents with support in the following areas:
Information on having a healthy pregnancy
Preparing for birth
Safety and childproofing
Brain building activities
Bonding with your baby
Child development and milestones
Parenting skills
Teaching your child while having fun & more!
Join by contacting the Harlan County Health Department at (606) 573-4820.
FAQs
What does the HANDS home visitation program do?
Reaches out to first-time parents during the prenatal period or within three months after the birth of the child. Trained parent visitors talk with families and review ten topic areas that help link parents with community services that best fit their strengths, values and individual needs. Parents who desire can receive information to make things go as smoothly as possible with a new child. Voluntary home visits are offered to parents facing multiple challenges.
How does home visiting support families?
Home visitors are non-judgmental, flexible, and respect the values and beliefs of the communities and families they serve. Family support workers build on the existing strengths in the family and provide information and referrals to community resources. The goal of the support worker is to empower families to make their own decisions.
What services do home visitors provide?
Meet with families on an agreed-upon schedule. Link families with health care services. Provide information about child development and developmental stages. Assist families in identifying their baby’s needs and available resources (clothing, food, and furniture).
Are the services voluntary?
Yes! Home visiting services are provided for those parents facing multiple challenges (overburdened) who voluntarily choose them. Parents may choose to leave the program at any time. Choosing not to participate in the program carries no penalties for the family.
Do home visiting programs create government dependency
No. Home visiting programs connect families with vital community resources to promote and encourage self-sufficiency.
Are records kept confidential?
Absolutely, yes.
What training do your workers have?
Workers have education and/or experience and training in child health and development disciplines. Workers in the Kentucky program are provided nationally recognized and validated training to assist them to best serve overburdened families, all the while respecting the various values and practices that come from cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and geographic diversity. Parent consultation is completed with the family by professional staff such as a registered nurse or health educator. Professional or paraprofessional staff completes home visiting. Workers work in partnership with families to support positive parenting.
What does overburdened mean?
These are families facing multiple challenges and burdens (elements that add stress to any home: single parent status, low income, substance abuse problems, victims of abuse or domestic violence, etc.)