What is a home visiting program?
A voluntary program where trained professionals (nurses, social workers, parent educators) visit families during pregnancy and early childhood to support health, development, and family well-being.
(Healthy Families, PACE, First Connections)
At the HEED Coalition and The Basics Southcoast/RI, we believe that support is most effective when it meets families where they are. Home visiting programs such as Healthy Families, PACE, and First Connections are vital because they provide relationship-based guidance during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life. These programs recognize that strong beginnings are built through consistent support, informed coaching, and respectful partnership with families.
This section of the Birth to Five Resource Guide highlights home visiting resources designed to strengthen parenting confidence, promote healthy development, and connect families to the services they need at the right time. Home visitors serve as guides, helping families navigate systems, anticipate developmental milestones, and build routines that support both caregiver and child. When support is proactive and personalized, families gain stability and agency rather than having to respond in crisis.
The resources included here are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They are not meant to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other licensed clinical provider. All health-related decisions should be made in consultation with your healthcare team.
Our approach is deliberate and grounded in evidence: when families are supported early, consistently, and with dignity, outcomes improve. Home visiting programs do not replace parents. They strengthen them. And strength, built early, carries forward for a lifetime.
A voluntary program where trained professionals (nurses, social workers, parent educators) visit families during pregnancy and early childhood to support health, development, and family well-being.
In RI and MA, nearly all programs—including First Connections, Healthy Families MA, and NFP—are free because they are funded through state agencies, HRSA/MIECHV federal funding, or nonprofit providers.
Eligibility varies by program, but includes:
Common supports include:
Most programs offer hybrid options. Families can choose in-home visits, virtual video visits, phone calls, or community meeting locations depending on needs and comfort level.
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Important Notice
The Birth to Five Resource Guide is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. By using this site, you acknowledge that you are accessing these materials voluntarily and at your own discretion.
The information shared here is not intended to replace professional medical, clinical, legal, or therapeutic advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician, pediatrician, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding health, development, or medical conditions.
The HEED Coalition and The Basics Southcoast/RI make no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or applicability of the information provided and assume no liability for any decisions made or actions taken based on the use of this site.
Use of this site constitutes your acceptance of these terms.
