Our Philosophy
As part of the Healthy Families America network, we share a mission of promoting the well-being of children and preventing abuse and neglect through intensive in-home visits and services.
Our dedicated family support workers offer supportive and compassionate services to expecting mothers and young parents experiencing the day-to-day challenges that come with a new baby. Our team members work with parents for an average of three years, ensuring that they have a knowledgeable, nonjudgmental person to help them foster the skills they need to become strong, confident, and nurturing parents. Services typically begin prior to birth and continue weekly until the child is up to three years old, depending on the needs of each family.
During in-home visits, our family support workers guide families towards being the kind of parent that every child needs. Using the Parents as Teachers curriculum, Healthy Families Montgomery services help make parenting less stressful by:
- Teaching basic parenting skills (feeding, diapering, bathing, and others)
- Linking families with community resources (including WIC, Medicaid, and more)
- Providing a support network of other parents
- Answering parenting questions on a variety of topics
- Connecting parents with medical resources
- Teaching the developmental milestones and needs of infants and toddlers
- Helping families learn attachment and bonding techniques
- In addition, families have the opportunity to participate in social outings with other young parents, allowing them to interact with and meet other families, while simultaneously learning
real world skills related to traveling with their newborn or toddler.
Healthy Families Montgomery has been accredited by Healthy Families America since 1999.
Eligibility for Healthy Families Montgomery
To participate in Healthy Families Montgomery, you must be a first-time parent living in Montgomery County, Maryland and enroll before your baby is three months old. Most families are referred to Healthy Families Montgomery from the Department of Health and Human Services and other community agencies; we also accept self-referrals. Eligibility for services is determined on a case-by-case basis after our team completes an in-home screening assessment.
Services are provided in English and Spanish.
Community Partners
In addition to the collaborative programs and services available throughout Sheppard Pratt, Healthy Families Montgomery has established formal and informal partnerships with other community programs and organizations, including those listed here.
- Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families
- Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program/Child Find/PEP
- Healthy Families Maryland Site Network
- Rockville Caregivers Association
- Gaithersburg Coalition of Providers
- Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
- Holy Cross Hospital
- CCI Health Services (Community Clinics)
- Lourie Center for Children’s Social and Emotional Wellness
- Discovery Station Early Head Start
- Family Discovery Center
- Greater DC Diapers
Public Funding
The Healthy Families Montgomery program is supported through a diversified array of public and private funding streams, as well as through private donations.