Soon after conception, the construction of your baby’s brain begins. Like the construction of a home, the building process for your baby’s brain starts with laying the foundation. Your baby’s early experiences and relationships are the building blocks that create the foundation and shape how the brain is built. A strong foundation increases the chances of a bright and healthy future, while a weak foundation can increase the odds of later difficulties with things like learning or health.

Do you have a baby on the way or a newborn at home?
A Maine Families Home Visitor will partner with you to access the information and resources that can support the physical and emotional health of your baby and entire family.

What happens during a home visit?
During home visits you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences about parenting, ask questions and receive reliable information based on your interests and needs on topics such as:

• pregnancy

• baby and child health care

• breastfeeding/formula feeding

• nutrition

• immunizations

• child growth and development

• discipline

• toilet training

• child safety

• household safety

• local resources

 

Touchpoints practice guides the work of Maine Families home visitors so that together you can provide the care and support your child needs to be healthy and ready to learn. The Touchpoints Approach is based upon the research and practice of internationally recognized pediatrician, T. Berry Brazelton, MD. Dr. Brazelton has served and listened to the concerns of over 25,000 parents and children.

You can expect a Touchpoints trained Maine Families Home Visitor to:

Talk with you and your child with respect and understanding.

Value your questions about your child and your care giving.

Listen without judgment as you share concerns about your child’s behavior.

Treat you as the most important person in your child’s development.

Respect and value your family’s culture and experiences.

Share with you the excitement of your child’s development.

Join you in advocating for the best care and services for your child and family.

Help you find community resources for your child and family.

Provide guidance and support to help you understand and respond to predictable ups and downs as your child grows.

“Maine Families has helped me stay balanced . . . being a new parent is challenging. . . at any given moment of the day (or night) I am madly in love with my baby, extremely happy, exhausted, sad because I need to be away from my baby during the day or overwhelmed. . . I can count on my home visitor to listen, to provide reliable information rather than advice, and to help me celebrate my baby.”

Click HERE for a program near you!