Maternal Child Health

ESDHD Nurturing Families is an evidence-based program provided through the Office of Early Childhood.


Who is Home Visiting For?
Nurturing Families is a FREE service for families who are pregnant or recently had a baby in the towns/neighborhoods of East Haven, West Haven, Branford, North Branford, North Haven, Hamden, Milford, Fair Haven, and other towns as needed.


Why Home Visiting?
Nurturing Families is designed to support parents and caregivers, so children have the best start in life. We achieve this by:

  • Sharing information about child development and parenting
  • Encouraging healthy and nurturing parent-child relationships
  • Guiding families to community services which will strengthen their family

How Home Visiting works?

  • Families start with the program prenatally or before the child is three months old.
  • Home visits are scheduled at the family's convenience.
  • Visits include information and activities related to both the parent and child.
  • We work with families to identify and promote their strengths.
  • Parents will learn to identify and respond to baby’s cues.
  • Together with the parent, we explore the child’s development.
  • We support the health and wellbeing of the whole family and work with the parent to identify areas where they might want additional support.
  • If the family would like, we can work with them until their child reaches 5 years old.


    • Referrals can now be made online REFERRALS
      For more information about this program, or to make a referral, please contact

      De Popkin, CLC, LCSW
      Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor
      203-481-4233 x 577 (Phone)
      203-804-7897 (Cell phone)
      203-483-6894 (Fax)

      For some helpful apps go to HELPFUL APPS