‘Home Visiting Week’ to be observed

    The Home Visiting Coalition of Maine and the Maine Children’s Trust are pleased to announce the celebration of “Home Visiting Week” from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. This week recognizes the strong commitment and support to parents and their young children by Maine’s home visiting programs.
    Home visiting began in Maine in 1997 with six pilot sites; it has since grown to 15 programs serving the entire state. Local programs aim to understand and support the parents’ universal desire for their baby to be healthy, happy and ready to learn. Maine’s home visitors are experienced educators, trained in positive parenting techniques, and knowledgeable in child development.
    Home visiting can make a difference for the youngest members of the community by promoting physical and emotional health of the entire family. Home visitors work to connect parents to local community resources and share research-based parenting activities that help children achieve developmental milestones preparing them to enter school ready to learn.
    In celebration of this week, the Aroostook Council for Healthy Families will be sponsoring a variety of events including water safety in Houlton, a fall playgroup in Presque Isle and yoga for children in Fort Kent.
    For more information on these events or a local home visiting program, call the Aroostook Council for Healthy Families at (877) 207-2301.