FARMINGTON – The growing Healthy Families program recently received a certificate of credential from Prevent Child Abuse America.

It recognizes the program as a provider of high quality home visitation services, according to Steve Russelll, executive director of the Franklin County Children’s Task Force.

The credentialing process, developed in conjunction with the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, attest that the home visitation program has met a set of nationally established, research-based standards, ensuring quality service delivery.

“The review process developed an in-depth examination of the program’s operation, including personnel, fiscal, and program management,” Russell said. “This includes a comprehensive site self-assessment, as well as an on-site review conducted by trained peer reviewers.”

Growing Healthy Families is a collaborative effort between the Children’s Task Force, Franklin Memorial Hospital and 17 community agencies. It has served more than 700 families since its inception six years ago.

Under the direction of Karyl Condit from the task force and MaryAnne Goodwin from the hospital, the Growing Healthy Families program provides services and support to expectant and new parents.

Each first-time parent can receive up to four visits by a hospital registered nurse, who will educate the parents about labor, delivery and infant care. Visits by a family support worker from the task force may be provided until a child’s fifth birthday.

“We have a 90 percent voluntary participation rate,” Goodwin said. “Our goal is to give parents as much information that we can so they can make good informed choices that will foster bonding and early attachment with their child.”

Growing Healthy Families also promotes positive parenting and child health. “Our families are getting better prenatal care, changing their smoking habits, and are more likely to have medical insurance and up-to-date immunizations for their children because of this,” Russell said.

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