Healthy Families America® (HFA) is one of the leading family support and evidence-based home visiting programs in the United States. HFA believes early, nurturing relationships are the foundation for healthy development. The mission of HFA is to promote child well-being and to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children by delivering home visiting services that empower families and communities.
Healthy Families Michigan is a Multi-Site State System HFA Affiliate. There are eleven local programs in the Healthy Families Michigan system, located throughout the state, that include home visitors (Family Resource Specialists and Family Support Specialists), Supervisors, and Program Managers. Healthy Families Michigan programs serve expectant parents and children up to 3 to 5 years of age, depending on the individual program.
Participation is voluntary and free. Home visitors walk alongside parents on their parenting journeys and provide support, encouragement, guidance and education.
Healthy Families Michigan aims to:
- Build and sustain community partnerships to systematically engage overburdened families in home visiting services prenatally or at birth
- Cultivate and strengthen nurturing parent-child relationships
- Promote healthy childhood development and growth
- Enhance family functioning by reducing risk and building protective factors
Healthy Families Michigan is anchored on 3 key principles:
- Trauma-Informed Practice: knowing how trauma impacts the way that adults perceive and see the world is a core element of the HFA philosophy.
- Relationship Building: The reflective strategies used by home visitors build a rapport with the families served, creating the necessary trust to maximize positive impact.
- Mindfulness and Self-Care: HFA prioritizes self-regulation and mindfulness so home visitors can better support parents when they experience emotional dysregulation.