Home Visiting
Information and resources about New Hampshire home visiting programs for pregnant, newly parenting and school aged families.
Home visiting provides family support and strengthening for pregnant, newly parenting and school aged families. These home visiting programs provide health education, parenting support, developmental screening and connections to community resources. Research shows that home visiting beginning prenatally and continuing through the first few years of a child's life has a positive impact on children and families.
The New Hampshire Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program is a preventative family support and strengthening program for pregnant and newly parenting families with children up to age 5. The program provides health education, parenting support, developmental screening and connections to community resources. Healthy Families America New Hampshire has trained family support specialists and nurses who visit families in their home, community or wherever they are most comfortable, to offer a nationally recognized, evidence-based service.
Email: MIECHV@dhhs.nh.gov
Comprehensive Family Support Services (CFSS) home visiting is a free program available to expectant parents and/or families with children ages 0-18 years. NH's CFSS program is designed to provide preventative services such as household management, budgeting techniques, positive parenting techniques, child development screenings, case management, resource and referrals Depending on your identified goals, services can be short-term or continue for up to twelve months.
Email: CFSSprogram@dhhs.nh.gov
Goals for home visiting programs are to:
improve maternal and child health,
strengthen families,
encourage positive parenting, and
promote child development and school readiness.
What is home visiting all about?
Family Support home visiting focuses on nurturing the parent-child relationship. As a child’s first teacher, the relationship they have with their caregiver(s) create the foundation for lifelong health and well-being.
Is this Child Protective Services/DCYF?
No. NH Home Visiting programs are voluntary, meaning you participate because you want to. Home visitors are not child protective service workers. They are trained family support professionals who work with families to achieve their goals and connect with community resources, while focusing on child development, bonding and attachment.
What happens during a visit?
Your home visitor will talk with you about topics that matter most to you. Some topics home visitors may discuss include feeding, crying, play, child development and bonding, and connecting to needed resources like WIC, a pediatrician or health insurance. You may also have opportunities for a nurse to visit you. Some nurses and home visitors are Certified Lactation Consultants (CLCs) who can support you if you are breastfeeding.
How often do they come?
Different home visiting models have different visit schedules. Home visit frequency can vary from weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or even less. If you enroll in home visiting, your home visitor will develop a visit schedule with you.
How long does a home visit last?
Your visit will typically last between 1 and 1 ½ hours, depending on what works best for you.
Do I have to pay for this?
No. NH Home Visiting Services are paid for through a combination of federal grants and state funding. Participants will not be billed for services.
Do I need my doctor to refer me?
No. While your doctor could make the referral, you can self-refer. Use the Program Locator on this page to find the program in your area. You can call or email to get started. If you’re not sure where to begin, feel free to reach out to MIECHV@dhhs.nh.gov or CFSSprogram@dhhs.nh.gov and we can get you connected.
What if I don't want to or can't continue visits?
You can decide to discontinue visits at any time. Families may begin to receive visits during pregnancy and will continue following a service plan to support you achieving the goals you set. If you feel you’ve achieved what you’ve set out to, or that home visiting doesn’t fit into your life anymore, you can choose to discontinue at any time.
Is it possible to meet somewhere besides my home?
Yes. Home visits may take place at the home visitor’s office or any other safe place in the community that you choose, like a relative’s house, a park, or a library. Virtual visits are offered as needed.
My partner and I both work weekdays. Can we still participate?
Yes. Some home visitors work flexible hours to meet the needs of families. It may be possible to meet early in the morning, during your lunch break or in the early evening hours.
Who can join the visits?
You may invite anyone who is important to you to join your visit. This may be a partner, family member or friend. Anyone you consider a support.