Free In-Home Visits For New And Expecting Parents Expanding in UC

The Stephens Center has expanded its Healthy Families Program into five new Upper Cumberland counties.

Healthy Families Program Manager Lisa McAfee said home visits are now available for new parents in Pickett, Clay, Overton, Jackson and Smith Counties. McAfee said new and expecting parents can get information, assessments and almost any need served right in their own home.

“We would like to just come and see what your needs are and whatever your interests are, that’s what we want to help you with,” McAfee said. “Parenting can be very overwhelming. There’s so much conflicting information out there, we just want to share with you the latest research and help you make good decisions for your new baby.”

McAfee said parents can get anything from child development assessments every six months, new car seats or steps to baby proof the home. She said this can start with weekly visits while you’re expecting to quarterly visits for kids up to age five.

“People are always saying, ‘oh my baby can do this, can your baby do that yet?’ So it’s a great comfort I think to most parents to know their child’s on track developmentally and to have that confidence,” McAfee said. “And if they’re not then we can provide activities for the parent to do with the child to help catch them up.”

McAfee said they like to start early, beginning visits when the mother is expecting. She said one of the surprising things is how many people don’t realize their own health affects the child their carrying.

“We just encourage them to take care of themselves,” McAfee said. “I think the thing that surprises most people is that your level of stress while you’re pregnant can impact your baby. We just really talk about self care and ways that they can keep themselves calm and take care of their baby even before their baby is born.”

McAfee said this expansion outside of Putnam, White, Cumberland, Dekalb and Macon Counties came through funding secured in January. She said the expansion took some time to roll out because of the need to hire and train the best possible people.

McAfee said this is a completely free service and parents can schedule an appointment by contacting the Livingston office at 931-823-6432. She said that every county has a home office for staff to operate from, but the Livingston office has a dedicated secretary.