Host Janet Michael sits down with Jodi Young, Executive Director of Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Tracy Mitchell, Manager of Valley Health's Wellness Services and Risk Reduction, to explore a free home visiting program that supports new and expectant parents from pregnancy through a child's fifth birthday — and why April's Child Abuse Prevention Month makes this conversation especially timely.

What You'll Learn

What Healthy Families is and how the home visiting model works
Who qualifies for the program and how to enroll
Why the first five years of a child's life are so critical for development
How Valley Health supports Healthy Families as its host agency
How the community can donate, fundraise, or spread the word

Key Takeaways

Healthy Families serves families from 20 weeks prenatal through age 5, with visits as frequent as once a week in the early months
The program is completely free — no income guidelines, no insurance requirements
Services include parenting education, developmental screenings, and referrals to community resources
Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley is one of 28 sites across Virginia and serves Winchester City, Frederick County, Warren County, and Clarke County
The program is rooted in evidence-based research showing that home visiting reduces child abuse and neglect
Valley Health provides operational support including grant writing, marketing, and foundation resources

How to Get Involved

Donate supplies: diapers, formula, car seats, pack-and-plays, baby blankets
Organize a drive: Get your church group, workplace, or community organization involved
Make a monetary donation
Spread the word: Share with pregnant friends, family, or anyone who might benefit
Contact Healthy Families NSV directly to ask about current needs

Find Healthy Families NSV

Facebook: Healthy Families NSV
Via Valley Health: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/our-locations/profile/healthy-families-nsv-resource-center/ Fetal Medicine