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Healthy Families Banner - Strengthening parent-child relationships through education and support

Your newborn's brain makes a million connections every second! And the most important connection is YOU!


Healthy Families Mendocino County can help your early years as a family make all the difference in the world to you and your child.

We offer free one-on-one support by a Nurse or Family Support Specialist to parents and primary caregivers, from pregnancy until your child is 5 years old.

Through weekly to monthly home visits, our Family Support Specialists can help you with:

  • Pregnancy
  • Postpartum and infant care
  • Benefits and support for breastfeeding
  • Diet, nutrition, and exercise
  • Recognizing your baby's needs
  • What to expect as your baby grows
  • Developmental screenings
  • Ideas on play to encourage health development
  • Assisting with problem solving
  • Linking to community resources
  • Ways to continue with education
  • Setting and working toward family goals

This is a free and voluntary program for qualified residents of Mendocino County who are expecting a baby or have a child under 24 months old.

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To apply, complete and submit the referral form.

 

Forms can be sent by secure fax line (707) 472-2699 or emailed to healthyfamilies@mendocinocounty.gov

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For more information, download the Healthy Families Mendocino brochure

 

You can also contact the program director by

 

Strengthening parent-child relationships 

Healthy Families Mendocino County is a nationally recognized relationship-based program supporting families with children from pregnancy through five years of age. This free, voluntary program pairs families with a trained nurse or community health specialist who will listen to family needs and provide targeted support to help parents build supporting, positive relationships. Emphasis is placed on having fun while learning about child development, best parenting practices, strength building and personal goal setting.

Eligibility

Families are eligible to enroll from pregnancy up to 24 months of age, with special extended eligibility for those with low-income, Medi-Cal, or those whose babies are at risk of adverse childhood experiences.

Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) resulting from maltreatment, domestic violence, homelessness, or parental substance abuse, untreated mental illness, or trauma history have been the subject of long-term studies and have been found to be associated with wide-ranging negative health and social consequences such as risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, reduced life potential, and early death. Healthy Families Mendocino County follows a 25 year plus National model proven to reduce the risk of ACEs.

Our Goals

The Healthy Families Mendocino County program goals include cultivating and strengthening nurturing parent-child relationships, promoting healthy childhood growth and development, enhancing family function by reducing risk and building protective factors, and building and sustaining community partnerships to engage overburdened families.

Free, voluntary, confidential & strength-based

Healthy Families Mendocino County services are voluntary, confidential, and strength-based. Services can be provided in the home or community setting in English or Spanish by bilingual family support specialists. Enrolled families may continue receiving home visiting services until the child reaches five years of age. Community clinics, hospitals, family resource centers refer clients to the program but women may also self-refer by contacting the program directly.

To learn about the national program please visit the Healthy Families America website