Healthy Families America

Healthy Families America (HFA) is an evidence- based, nationally recognized home visiting program model designed to work with overburdened families who are at-risk for child abuse and neglect and other adverse childhood experiences. It is the primary home visiting model designed to work with families who may have histories of trauma, intimate partner violence, mental health and/or substance abuse issues. HFA services are offered voluntarily, intensively and over the long-term (3 to 5 years after the birth of the baby).

HFA has a strong research base which includes randomized control trials and well designed quasi-experimental research. In 2006, HFA was named a “proven program” by the RAND Corporation based on research conducted on the Healthy Families New York programs. Additionally, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has rated HFA as Effective. To date, research and evaluation indicates impressive outcomes. Reviews of more than 15 evaluation studies of HFA programs in 12 states produced the following outcomes:

• Reduced child maltreatment;
• Increased utilization of prenatal care and decreased pre-term, low weight babies;
• Improved parent-child interaction and school readiness;
• Decreased dependency on welfare, or TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) and other social services;
• Increased access to primary care medical services; and
• Increased immunization rates.

Vision: All children will receive the nurturing care essential to becoming compassionate and contributing members of their communities.

Mission: To prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children through intensive home visiting.

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