Healthy Families
70,000+
Families receive support from Healthy Families America programs each year.
WE HELP PARENTS BRING OUT THE BEST IN THEMSELVES BY TAPPING INTO THE SKILLS THEY ALREADY POSSESS.
If you are a new parent or are expecting a child, Healthy Families Baltimore County can provide support and resources to you and your family. We are able to start providing support before the baby is born or within two weeks after birth. Once services begin, they can continue until your child is three to five years old.
We have helped families:
Choose a pediatrician
Find child care
Locate housing options
Improve relationships
Manage stress
Locate employment
Continue education
Provide Self-care
HFBC is always free of charge - and always completely voluntary.
Families who enroll in HFBC receive the support they need based on their specific circumstances.
You can learn about how your baby will grow, connect with other families, and hear about activities to do together.
We help parents develop and achieve goals related to what is most important to them, whether it's school, work, housing, childcare, health, relationships, or other life skills.
HOW HFBC WORKS
Family Connections
Once a family becomes interested in receiving services, HFBC staff will reach out to learn more about their current needs, and also explore their strengths. At HFBC, it’s all about relationships, and the first job of staff is to build a strong connection with the families being served.
Voluntary Enrollment
After learning more about each family’s unique situation, HFBC staff will recommend services for families based on their needs—from home visiting to additional community connections. Regardless of the recommendations our staff offer, HFBC is always voluntary.
Home Visiting
HFBC staff will work with families long-term. Most families are offered services for a minimum of three years, and are visited weekly at the start. Services are culturally respectful, and home visitors are chosen on the basis of their ability to establish trusting relationships with participating families.
“My favorite thing about Healthy Families is the sense of community, being able to ask for resources for things that I need, and being able to express my worries as a mother and have the support from someone who understands.”
HFBC Participant
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is the program voluntary?
Yes! 100%. All the time.
How do parents or families qualify to receive HFBC home visiting services?
Most families who live in Baltimore County and are either expecting a baby or are a new parent are eligible.
Do parents or families have to pay to receive HFBC services?
No…HFA is always free for families.
What happens during a home visit?
Great question. HFBC home visits always start like a visit with a friend who checks in on what’s happened since the last time you were together. Likely, home visitors will develop other activities based based on topics parents have asked to learn more about, such as child development (When will my baby start to crawl? When can by baby see colors?) or health and safety topics (How should I move things around in my house now that my baby is crawling? Is it safe to bring my baby to the pool?). Home visitors are always prepared to give families additional resources—if families indicate it would be helpful—such as referrals to a local food bank or information about getting a library card.
Other than home visits, can families receive other benefits?
We partner with a variety of support groups with focuses on fatherhood, breastfeeding, and parenting toddlers and preschoolers.
SPECIAL EVENTS
We give families the chance to socialize at quarterly events such as field trips, park picnics, and an annual Trunk or Treat.
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?
Contact us at (410)-828-7700 or hfbc@abilitiesnetwork.org and ask for information on the Healthy Families program
