More than 515 members successfully urged state policymakers to invest more in California babies and their families. The 2018-19 State Budget agreement includes the CalWORKs Home Visiting Program, which will provide home visiting programs to families in poverty. By matching new and expectant parents with trained professionals, home visiting programs provide ongoing, individualized support during pregnancy and through a child’s first years of life. Home visiting is proven to boost both parents and children by increasing healthy births, fostering positive parenting practices, reducing child maltreatment, and increasing family self-sufficiency.
Children’s earliest brain development is the foundation for their lifelong health and success. Yet too often families, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet, don’t have the support they need during the stressful time of pregnancy and the baby’s earliest days. By matching new and expectant parents with trained professionals, home visiting programs provide ongoing, individualized support during pregnancy and through a child’s first years of life.
