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

Referrals

Referrals to the program can be made here.

Who is Home Visiting For?
Nurturing Families is a FREE service for families who are pregnant or recently had a baby in East Haven, Branford, North Branford, North Haven, New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, Milford, Ansonia, Bethany, Derby, Orange, Seymour, Shelton and/or Woodbridge.

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 parents and caregivers to community services which will strengthen their family.

How Does Home Visiting Work?

• 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.

Helpful Links

Are you anticipating the arrival of a newborn, or have you recently welcomed a baby? Explore a selection of helpful apps designed to assist you on your parenting journey.

Count the Kicks: In the third trimester, mothers can monitor fetal movements by counting them during a consistent time frame each day. This practice helps unveil a discernible pattern in the baby’s movements. Any changes in this pattern might signal the need to contact the healthcare provider promptly. To facilitate this monitoring process, consider downloading the free Count the Kicks app, which provides guidance on tracking your baby’s movements and offers insights into when it may be necessary to reach out to your healthcare provider.

Period of Purple Crying: Babies exhibit varying levels of crying, with some potentially crying for up to five hours daily. This can be emotionally challenging for caregivers. Understanding the concept of the Period of Purple Crying is crucial, as it sheds light on the normalcy of intense crying in some infants. Equipping yourself with information about this period can make it more manageable. To delve deeper into this topic, consider downloading the Period of Purple Crying app. Moreover, it’s essential to share this valuable information with everyone involved in caring for your baby. Always check with your pediatrician if you have a concern about your baby.

Sparkler App: Sparkler is a mobile app designed to assist parents in tracking their child’s progress against important developmental milestones. It offers evidence-based, enjoyable, interactive activities for parents to engage in with their 0-5-year-olds, igniting growth in their hearts, minds, and bodies. For a deeper understanding and a wealth of engaging activities, consider downloading the Sparkler app, available for free.

For more information about this program, 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)