For parents with young children, during one of the most overwhelming, emotional, and challenging experiences in their lives, home visitors are a source of both stability and joy. They coach parents and build their confidence. They connect families to resources, provide help finding employment, and are trained to assist with the difficult situations that come up with young kids. They allow parents to feel hope for their futures, rather than fear.
Children Now is proud to have played a key role in the creation of the CalWORKs Home Visiting Program and get families across California needed support. Too often though, home visitors don’t receive the recognition they deserve for the critical support they provide every day to young kids, while also struggling with low wages and limited career growth. So in 2022, led by the Los Angeles County Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium and coordinated by LA Best Babies Network, a “Home Visiting Day” was proposed in Los Angeles County to celebrate home visitors while spreading the word so more families can benefit. What began as a soft launch quickly gained traction, and by the end of the campaign, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the third Friday in April as “Home Visiting Day” with unanimous support.
Since those humble beginnings, the recognition of Home Visiting Day has become much more coordinated and visible, with people and organizations across the state finding meaningful and joyful ways to celebrate. The cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Pomona have now all officially recognized Home Visiting Day. In Pomona, where I am a proud resident, it was a particular honor to stand beside partners like Foothill Family Services, Emanate Health, and the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities and lift up home visitors by recognizing Home Visiting Day for a second year in a row this April.
Over the past five years, Home Visiting Day has continued to build momentum and grown into more than a celebration. Events have strengthened local engagement and elevated awareness among the state’s decision makers. Home Visiting Day is now a moment to recognize the full spectrum of people who ensure families have access to the long-term, relationship-based support they need during pregnancy and the earliest years of a child’s life. The professionals who work directly with families and help parents strengthen bonds with their children, navigate educational and career goals, and get connected to resources. The teams behind the scenes managing funding streams, data systems, and workforce pipelines. This collective work reflects a shared commitment to ensuring families are not navigating early years alone.
In 2025, Home Visiting Day gained national attention, prompting Children Now and partners First 5 CA, First 5 Association, and CWDA to build off that momentum and advocate for a full Home Visiting Week in California. Together our coalition issued a statewide support letter to request sponsorship from Asm. Celeste Rodriguez, a long-time champion of home visiting. With her and her team’s leadership and support, April 20 – 24 will now officially be Home Visiting Week in California, falling in line with other National Home Visiting week celebrations across the country. And with it will come much more visibility, appreciation, and celebration of home visitors and their support systems that do so much for families with young children.
To learn more about home visiting or get involved, visit our Early Childhood Hub or connect with us at [email protected].
