Healthy Families Monroe

Healthy Families is a voluntary home visiting program designed to promote positive parent/child interaction and healthy childhood growth and development through safe, nurturing experiences. 

Healthy Families Monroe is one small part of the Healthy Families Florida and Healthy Families America network of model programs occurring in most many counties of most states.  It is a program with a scientific basis and proven track record of effectiveness.  In the almost six years since Healthy Families Monroe has been in existence 98 to 100% of all of the families who completed services had no incidence of child abuse or neglect during services and after one year of completion of services.  In addition to preventing child abuse the program’s five year evaluation results show it has a positive impact on maternal and child health, parent-child interaction and family self-sufficiency.

Healthy Families Monroe serves approximately 70 families per year from Big Pine Key to Key West.  Many of our families are single parent mothers, some are teens, some have limited family support, some endure economic hardship, all are in need of a little extra support to get them off to the best possible start with their new baby.  Services begin during pregnancy or immediately after the birth of a baby and continue up to 5 years.  Family Support Workers visit families in their homes at times that are convenient to the family working around employment and school schedules. 

Healthy Families Monroe gives information and educational activities to promote physical and emotional development of babies.  Families benefit from the modeling of brain building activities and interactive play.  The Ages and Stages developmental screen are provided to all babies at intervals designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics and activities tailored to meet the needs of each child are developed along with any referrals necessary to other agencies that might be of value.  Family Support Workers assist the family in achieving their personal and family goals toward self-sufficiency.

Client Satisfaction Surveys provided to all participants at least annually report that families are appreciative of the support they receive and the information they receive has helped them through tough times to happy times.  To quote one participant:  “When I think about where I was when I first started the program and where I am now, I’m amazed and don’t know how I did it.  I don’t know where I’d be right now without my Family Support Worker.”  

For more information about Healthy Families Monroe, please contact the program at 293-7494.  For details about Healthy Families please visit www.healthyfamiliesfla.org.