Marc Belanger of Lewiston helps Aiden crawl during a SMART baby event at the Auburn Public Library last fall. Healthy Families Androscoggin’s SMART baby events are designed to promote development in children ages 0 to 2.

Home coalition, trust to celebrate families

AUBURN – Home visiting programs in every Maine county ensure first-time parents have access to parenting information and support. The Home Visiting Coalition of Maine and the Maine Children’s Trust will celebrate Maine’s children and families on Monday through Friday, Oct. 20 to 24.

Home visiting promotes the physical and emotional health of the family. Home visitors connect parents to local community resources and share research-based parenting activities to help children achieve developmental milestones.

When asked about the best part of participating in the program, one participate said, “I loved having a point of reference no matter what the question was. My husband found all the handouts extremely helpful; I have saved them all in case we ever have a second baby.”

Healthy Families Androscoggin and its partners will celebrate how Maine invests in its families from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Auburn Public Library.

For more information on the event or the local home visiting program, contact Advocates for Children at 783-3990.