The Sangamon County Board approved a grant acceptance of over $400,000 to support the Public Health's Healthy Families program.
Healthy Families Illinois follows the research-based Healthy Families America program model, a voluntary home visiting program that helps new and expectant parents strengthen their family's functioning and reduce their risk for child abuse and/or neglect. The program is a prevention program that works to improve the safety of children while providing support to the family.
Services are provided through intensive home visits, starting with bi-weekly visits during the pregnancy and increasing to weekly visits for at least six months following the child's birth. After the initial six months of weekly home visits, frequency and duration of the visits vary according to the needs of the family. Home visitation may continue at least quarterly through the first five year of the child's life.