LEWISTON – The Home Visiting Coalition of Maine and the Maine Children’s Trust have announced the celebration of Home Visiting Week from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. The week recognizes the commitment and support to parents and their young children by Maine’s home visiting programs.

Home visiting programs in every Maine county ensure first-time parents have access to the most up-to-date parenting information and support in one of life’s most challenging roles.

Home visiting began in Maine with six pilot sites in 1997 and has grown to 15 programs serving the entire state. Local programs understand and support parents’ universal desire for their baby to be healthy, happy and ready to learn. Maine’s home visitors are experienced educators, trained in positive parenting techniques and knowledgeable in child development.

Home visitors connect parents to local community resources and share researched-based parenting activities that help children achieve developmental milestones, preparing them to enter school ready to learn.

For more information on the program in Androscoggin County, call Advocates for Children at 783-3990 or stop by the office at 57 Birch St., Suite 204, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, during Healthy Families Androscoggin’s open house.