Evidence Based Home Visiting Programs
During the first years of a child’s life, many parents face obstacles such as poverty, domestic violence and social isolation. They might feel confused, alone, stressed or overwhelmed by the presence of a newborn and may struggle to meet the needs of their children.
Evidence Based Home Visiting (EBHV) programs can be an effective early-intervention strategy to improve the health and well-being of children and parents. Research demonstrates that young children of families enrolled in EBHV programs show improvements in health and development outcomes and increased school readiness.
EBHV programs:
- Improve family functioning and parenting skills
- Link families with appropriate social service agencies
- Promote early learning
- Help new parents provide safe, nurturing environments for their children and become more self-sufficient
Families participate on a voluntary basis and are provided with ongoing support in times of need.
The Tennessee Department of Health funds eleven (11) agencies to deliver EBHV services in 51 counties. Please see the table below to see contact information for Evidence Based Home Visiting programs available in your county.
| Agency | Counties Served | Eligibility Requirements |
Centerstone
|
|
Pregnant women and families with children, prenatal through preschool. |
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department Marguerite Chambers |
|
Families from pregnancy to age six. |
Helen Ross McNabb Center Stephanie Rollins |
|
Pregnant mothers and families of children from birth to age five. Priority for first time mothers. May enroll during pregnancy or before the baby is 3 months old. Services provided as needed until the child is of school age. |
Yvette Parker 400 Fern Street |
|
|
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Katy Myers |
|
First time mothers or mothers under the age of 21 with multiple children can enroll prenatally or until the child is three months old. Services are offered until the child reaches age five. |
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Marilyn Smith |
|
Healthy Families America: Serves first-time, teen mothers (ages 19 or younger) who are pregnant or have a child. Nurse Family Partnership: Low-income, throughout first pregnancy and the first two-years of life. |
Lisa Dingus Healthy Families Program, Sullivan County Health Department 154 Blountville Pass |
|
|
Metro Nashville Public Health Department Yolonda Radford |
|
First time mothers or mothers under the age of 25 with multiple children can enroll prenatally or until the child is three months old .Services are offered until the child reaches age five. (Women should not have received home visiting for earlier pregnancies). |
Porter-Leath Kimberly Thomas |
|
Pregnant mothers and families of children from birth to age three. Parents of children ages three to five. |
Nurture the Next (East Tennessee) Allison Wentz
|
|
First-time parents may enroll during pregnancy or before the baby is three-months old. |
Nurture the Next (Tennessee Valley Region) Richard Tate
|
|
First-time parents may enroll during pregnancy or before the baby is three-months old. |
Nurture the Next (Middle Tennessee)
|
|
First-time parents may enroll during pregnancy or before the baby is three-months old. |
The Center for Family Development - Middle TN Rachel McClanahan - 200 Commerce Street, Suite D, Clarksville, TN 37040
|
|
Parents who are expecting or who have newborns under the age of three-months. |
The Center for Family Development - Southern Middle TN Joyce Coker - 310 Coloredo Blvd suite b, Shelbyville, TN 37160 |
|
Parents who are expecting or who have newborns under the age of three-months. |
The Exchange Club/Holland J. Stephens Center Dawn Raines |
|
First time mothers or mothers under the age of 21 with multiple children can enroll prenatally or until the child is two months old. Services are offered until the child is five years of age. |
University of Tennessee, Martin Sharon Waterfield |
|
First time mothers or mothers under the age of 21 with multiple children can enroll prenatally or until the child is two months old. Services are offered until the child is five years of age. |
COVID-19 Resources for Parents
Resources from HRSA
- Managing Stress and Anxiety – COVID-19 (General recommendations with sub-population guidance)
- Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
- Resilience Resources for Emergency Response
Resources for families- dealing with the emotional response
From DCS https://www.tn.gov/dcs/covid-19.html
Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The following guidance, recommendations, and resources are provided by child trauma experts at Child Trends and the Child Trauma Training Center at the University of Massachusetts. The Center is housed at the University of Massachusetts with Child Trends as the lead evaluating agency, with funding from SAMHSA and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and additional support from HRSA.
https://www.childtrends.org/publications/resources-for-supporting-childrens-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Information about how to talk to your kids about coronavirus and what families need to know to stay healthy.
https://www.kidcentraltn.com/health/when-kids-get-sick/coronavirus--what-families-need-to-know-.html
Resources from TDMHSA
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/covid19.html
Resources from DOE
https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus.html
Resources from ZerotoThree
- https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3291-coronavirus-resources-for-early-childhood-professionals#chapter-2445
- https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2896-getting-started-with-mindfulness-a-toolkit-for-early-childhood-organizations
- https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
- https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/357-building-resilience
PCAT
https://www.pcat.org/covid19-response