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Governor Announces $1 Million in Funding to Expand Home Visiting Programs

Expansion Will Serve Expecting Families and New Parents in Underserved Communities

Supports Successful Healthy Families New York Program, Which Has Proven Effective in Giving Children a Better Start

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced $1 million in funding to expand home visiting programs for new and expecting parents in underserved communities. As part of the Healthy Families New York Program, this program provides home-based services to families during pregnancy and offers care until their child enters school or Head Start. Services include well-baby visits by qualified post-natal professionals, and screenings for risk factors and stressors that may impact long-term healthy child development.

“Research shows home visiting programs help to give children and families a healthier and happier start -- but too often underserved communities have no access to these vital resources,” Governor Cuomo said. “This funding will allow for more families across the state to be reached by these programs and brings us one step closer to a stronger, healthier and fairer New York for all."

The free, voluntary home visiting program has served more than 6,000 families each year, and has proven effective in reducing low birth weight babies, promoting children’s success in school, preventing child abuse and neglect, supporting positive parenting and saving money. Healthy Families New York programs nurture healthy parent-child relationships, providing the foundation for health and well-being throughout a child’s life.

Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, “Becoming a parent can be an overwhelming experience, especially for young families. Healthy Families New York programs help new or expectant parents learn how to have a healthier baby and provide strategies on how to be a good parent once that child is born.”

There are 38 Healthy Families New York programs, serving more than 6,000 families each year in all five boroughs of New York City and 27 counties statewide. The $1 million in funding, provided through the State’s adoption assistance savings, will fund the expansion of four existing programs and the addition of one new program. Services offered through Healthy Families New York include connecting families to pre-natal care, well-baby visits, immunizations, screening for developmental delays, and educating families on how to be self-sufficient and manage everyday problems, among others. Families are referred to Healthy Families New York programs by caseworkers, physicians, community agencies and other human services professionals who deem them at-risk. 

About the Office of Children and Family Services

The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, families, and communities. The Office of Children and Family Services maintains an active social media presence. “Like” the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Facebook page and follow @NYSOCFS on Twitter in English or the Spanish-language Twitter account, @NYSOCFS en Espanol.

About Healthy Families New York
Healthy Families New York is a collaboration of Healthy Families New York home visiting programs, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Prevent Child Abuse New York, Inc., the Center for Human Services Research of the State University of New York at Albany, and Healthy Families America. Healthy Families New York is Healthy Families America accredited and seeks to improve the health and well-being of infants and children through home-based services delivered by non-profit organizations in local communities. Healthy Families New York was established in 1995 by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.