Family Support and Home Visiting

Since 1988, Mary’s Center has been supporting individuals and families in our community through our Home Visiting programs. This work is based upon years of research showing that home visits by trained professionals improve the lives of children and families.

We currently offer programs in Washington, DC, and Prince George’s County, Maryland. We have five unique programs with different services and eligibility criteria and our team will determine which program is best for you and your family.

Father-Child Attachment promotes positive father involvement and works toward strengthening the father-child relationship. Fathers in DC can enroll prenatally until their child turns five years old and can participate until their youngest child turns five.
Healthy Families of America uses a strengths-based, family-centered approach to provide intensive home visitation services to families with complex needs. The program is available to families in DC and Prince George’s County, and families can enroll prenatally through three months postpartum and can participate until their youngest child is between three to five years old.
Healthy Start is a national initiative designed to improve birth outcomes and improve the health and development of infants into early childhood. Families can enroll prenatally and can participate until their child turns 18 months old.
Nurse-Family Partnership supports pregnant people and their families in DC by having specially trained nurses regularly visit first-time moms-to-be, starting early in pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday.
Parents as Teachers support parents in becoming their child’s first and most important teacher. Families can enroll prenatally until their child turns 36 months and can participate until their child turns five or enters kindergarten.

Pregnancy and the first few years of a child’s life can be the most challenging and important times for a family. That is why our home visitors have been partnering with growing families like yours to provide information, resources, skills, and hands-on support in the comfort of your home. These services are free and voluntary. Because we care about your safety, home visits are also being offered virtually.

As a participant in one of our programs, you will have regular visits with a trained and supportive home visitor. They will connect you and your family with tools, and resources needed to be healthy, to prepare for life events such as childbirth, and parenting, and to develop skills you will use throughout life.

During the visits, your Home Visitor will:

Develop plans to reach your personal and family goals.
Support you in accessing healthcare services for yourself and your family.
Play games with your baby that promote healthy development and school readiness.
Build intentional healthy relationships with each other and others close to you.

Register for the program

Email the program to learn more

Watch this video to learn more about home visiting services offered at Mary’s Center:

Advocacy

The Home Visiting team works with participants, staff, and partners to promote the benefits of our programs to policymakers. This advocacy is a year-round process that is needed to maintain funding that will allow us to continue supporting families with infants and young children.

We rely on people like you to share your story and perspective on Home Visiting. There are many ways to get involved, from sharing information on social media to testifying at a Budget hearing.

View one of our participant’s videos as an example of a quick and simple way to advocate for community programs!

We thank parents, partners, and champions for all that they have done for families in the District and beyond. If you are interested in sharing your perspective on Home Visiting, please reach out to your Mary’s Center Home Visitor or email the Home Visiting Advocacy Team at fhernandez@maryscenter.org.

Partnerships

The Home Visiting team works with partner organizations to conduct outreach, organize community events and advocate together to promote our shared mission, which is to support our area’s families in their paths toward good health, supportive environments, and positive family outcomes.

If you would like to partner with Mary’s Center, please email Fernanda Ruiz, Home Visiting Director, at fruiz@maryscenter.org or call (202) 420-7178. In addition, if you have a participant to refer to our programs, please email HomeVisitingManagment@maryscenter.org or complete the registration link above.