Inside CARE House: How Home Visits Can Prevent Abuse

In homes across Oakland County, at all socioeconomic levels, CARE House professionals help fulfill our mission of preventing child abuse by working with families impacted by substance abuse and involved in child welfare.

From prenatal through age 3, our team of five professionals in the Healthy Families America home visiting program, goes into homes and build trusting relationships to ensure that families have access to culturally responsive supports, knowledge of child development, and safety education they need to begin a child’s life free from abuse.

“Families welcome our compassionate home visitors into their homes and want to learn from them,” said Bernice Harvey, Program Manager. “The home visitors become a part of the family support system by being present and available, serving as a strong connection to community partners while providing stable, consistent emotional support and encouragement.”

Home visitors focus on the relationship and attachment between parent and child, understanding child development and the value parents bring to infant and young children. “This program reduces the fear and anxiety that comes with being the parent of a newborn or young child. We utilize an evidence-based curriculum to empower parents with knowledge about child development and support parent-child interactions with hands on activities that are educational and engaging. Our home visitors also link families to community services to enhance family functioning, reduce risk factors for abuse/neglect, and strengthen protective factors across generations so that that infants and toddlers can thrive in a developmentally supportive and safe home,” said Harvey.

“It can be difficult job starting as a stranger in somebody’s home,” added Quentella Ambrose, Program Supervisor. “But we are there to walk alongside of the families and build a relationship by sharing information in ways that work for the families, in the best interests of the child.”

The program’s staff undergoes consistent and frequent training. “The love for the work keeps them growing,” said Ambrose. During home visits, staff members don’t use clipboards or notepads, taking care of all paperwork after so they can focus on the families.

One example of a success story is a family that program staff met during prenatal care. The baby was ultimately born with a genetic disorder and the mom didn’t know how she would be able to handle it. “The home visitor encouraged the mom that she could be the best parent for this child. Today, she doesn’t see the challenges first, she sees her baby first,” said Ambrose. “It’s about leaning into a parent’s strengths and building on them,” said Harvey.

“We walk alongside expectant and new parents on their journey and after 3 years of voluntarily participating in our home visiting program, families successfully graduate.  “Families that enroll in the program, stay in the program and appreciate what they learn, transforming them into knowledgeable, resourceful, and self-sufficient parents.”

CARE House finds families through outreach and referrals from community partners. The program has a capacity for 52 families and currently, CARE House has limited openings. If you know of a family that could benefit, call or text our Family Resource Specialist at 947-232-7470.

“After three years in the program, we want our families to feel well-equipped to navigate parental stress while engaging in positive parenting practices to promote long-term child and family well-being,” said Harvey.

Curious to learn more? Click the links below to read the rest of the Program Spotlights!

Inside CARE House: The First Rooms for Children

Inside CARE House: A Dedicated Interview Space

Inside CARE House: A Comfortable Place for Therapy

Inside CARE House: A CARE House “CASA” Helps Make Dreams Come True