HANDS

Any parent expecting a new baby and residing in Kentucky is eligible. Families must be enrolled during pregnancy or before a child is 90 days old. 

HANDS will support a family during their pregnancy and until the baby turns two to three years old to assist with child development, parenting skills, health services and other needed resources.

• 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.

• Support through your pregnancy and the early years of your baby’s life
  • Learn tips for staying healthy in pregnancy. Those first few months can be especially rough.
  • You’ll have a weekly support system to walk you through the best way to stay healthy in pregnancy and also the labor process.
  • We’re here to help decrease any anxiety you might have around the unknown
  • Learn how to bond with baby so they know mom/dad’s voice even before they’re born.
• Ways to make your home safer for your baby.
• Information on how to care for your baby.
  • Build security/trust with baby.
  • You will learn how to pick up on cues, so you are there for your baby when they’re happy, sad, sick or overwhelmed.
  • There’s a better way than letting them cry it out.
  • Practice empathic parenting.
  • Our goal is to grow better adjusted children who can self-regulate from an early age.
  • Tantrums in the grocery don’t have to become your norm.
• 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

A 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.

We want you to bond with your baby right now and we help you do that through education, encouragement, and support. You may already have a support system, or maybe you don’t,
But we are a safe person you can talk to that’s outside of your normal circle. What we’re telling you is all based on years of research.
You are learning right alongside other Kentucky moms and dads. We are here to see you succeed and cheer you on in your role as parent.