The Kentucky Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program is a voluntary home visitation program for any new or expectant parent. HANDS supports families as they build healthy, safe environments for the optimal growth and development of children.
What is the HANDS Program?
HANDS supports you throughout your pregnancy and up to your child's third birthday. HANDS is here to answer questions during the different stages of your baby's development. All families receive information and learn about resources available in the community for new parents. Some families receive further support through home visitation.
Who Can Participate?
Any new or expectant parent residing in Kentucky is eligible. Families must be enrolled during pregnancy or before a child is 90 days old.
Why Participate in HANDS?
- Parents are the most important people in a baby's life.
- Parents are the first and most important teachers a child will ever have.
- Parenting is a very demanding job and all parents have worries, questions and stress.
What Can Parents Expect?
- Support through your pregnancy and the early years of your baby's life
- Ways to make your home safer for your baby
- Information on how to care for your baby
- Facts that will let you know your baby is growing and developing in healthy ways
- Activities that you and your baby can enjoy together that can stimulate your child's brain development
- Access to other community services
What are the Main Goals of HANDS?
- Positive pregnancy outcomes
- Optimal child growth and development
- Children live in healthy, safe homes, and
- Family self-sufficiency
How Does the Program Work?
In the prenatal period the family is screened after a referral is made. This referral can be made by the doctor's office, the health department, your church, friends or family. A trained home visitor will visit your home to introduce parenting skill development in areas such as recognizing your baby's needs, what to expect as your baby grows, making your home safe, etc. The frequency of visits will be determined by the family's needs.
HANDS Believes:
- All families have strengths.
- Families are responsible for their children.
- Families are the primary decision-makers regarding their children.
- Communities recognize their roles in children's lives.
- Communities recognize that all children must succeed.
- Prevention and early intervention improves community well-being.
- Public and private partnerships are vital to a successful program.
What can you expect?
Through HANDS, families receive individualized support, information and activities to help navigate early parenthood together. Our goals are to support positive pregnancy outcomes, optimal child growth and development, children growing up in healthy, safe homes and supporting parents to reach the goals they have for their children and their family.