Home Visitation

Home Visitation at Children’s Service Society of Utah is a critical community service in Salt Lake County that targets low income and high-risk families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten to promote school readiness, maternal, infant, and early childhood health, safety and development.

Key indicators of risk for children in SL County homes include:

• low birth weights
• preterm births
• poor basic health care for children
• lack of parenting skills
• mental illness and health issues
• substance abuse &
• involvement in the child welfare system

These key indicators and other situations can cause toxic stress within a family that can have life-long effects on young children exposed. The Home Visitation Program aims to help prevent and mitigate the effects of these key indicators through our services. Since 2018, we estimate that 197 families were served, 168 family centered assessments were performed, 181 child health reviews were done, and 208 developmental screenings were conducted. To keep updated on the services provided, check out the Home Visitation Newsletter, provided in both English and Spanish.

Home Visitation (HV) services are provided by parent educators who are trained and certified in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model. They connect families to the resources they need to address the complexity of issues in their lives. The program uses the PAT evidence-based home visiting model designed to provide the information, support and encouragement that high-risk parents need to prevent child abuse and neglect and help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life. By emphasizing the parent’s role in supporting their child, a foundation is laid for the family.

There are four components to the program:

1. Personal visits are delivered bi-monthly or more often depending on family needs to develop family support and parenting education, child and family development, health, safety and nutrition
2. Group Connections– monthly social activities- parents connect to other families to build supportive peer relationships
3. Screenings which provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues [Assessments include: ASQ-SE 2, ASQ 3, Edinburg Depression Screening, Intimate Partner Violence, Annual Family Centered Assessment, and HOME; HV also facilitates Health, Vision, and Dental Screenings to ensure children/babies are up to date on their health needs.]
4. Connections to community resources such as TANF, WIC, Social Security, Medicaid, CHIP, Housing Authorities, WoW,  Help Me Grow Utah, and Department of Workforce Services

A donation of $650 would provide the funds needed to pay for a home visit for a family in need. Other needed donations include, but are not limited to:

• 4. books
• 5. baby or children’s clothing
• 6. wipes

Please send an email to sammy@cssutah.org or encarni@cssutah.org if you would like to coordinate getting your generous donations into the homes of families in need!