HANDS 
(Health Access Nurturing Development Services)

        HANDS is a voluntary home visiting program for Kentucky's first-time parents and their babies, regardless of income.   As many as 10,000 babies are born in Kentucky every year to first-time parents.  HANDS offers new families a place to turn for help to become the best parents possible. 

HANDS Goals

• Positive pregnancy outcomes

• Optimal child growth and development

• Children living in healthy, safe homes

• Families making decisions that enhance long-term independence over meeting short term or immediate needs

HANDS Believes:

• All families have strengths

• All families want the best for their children

• Families are responsible for their children

• Families are the primary decision makers regarding their children

• All children can succeed

How does the HANDS program work?

        All families receive information and learn about resources available in the community for new parents.  Some families receive further support through home visitation.  In the prenatal period the family is screened after a referral is made.  This referral can be made by the doctor's office, health department, church, friends or even the family themselves.  A trained home visitor will then visit their home to introduce parenting skill development in areas such as: recognizing baby's needs, what to expect as the baby grows, making the home safe, social and emotional development, brain development and play and stimulation.  The frequency of visits is determined by the family needs and wants. 

Parents are the most important, influential teachers in a baby's life.  Parenting can be very demanding under the best of circumstances and all new parents have concerns and questions.  Be prepared!  Any first-time parent or newborn child is eligible for home visitation services.  We encourage first time parents to start with HANDS at the beginning of their pregnancy.  There are no income guidelines and no charge for the service.  Call any health department in the Barren River District for more information or to make a referral.

For more information contact:

Visit the State HANDS Program website

PROMOTE • PROTECT • PREVENT

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