Strong and Healthy Families

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Strong and Healthy Families is a unique partnership formed in 2009 between the El Paso County Department of Human Services (DHS) and El Paso Count Public health (EPCPH) aimed as promoting self-sufficiency and preventing child abuse. Expectant mothers and mothers with a child up to four months old who qualify for temporary assistance for Needy Families are eligible. DHS caseworkers refer clients to the Strong Hand Healthy Families program as a condition included in the client’s Individual responsibility Contract. Participants receive nurse home visitation for up to 2 years and pre-vocational training focused on early childhood development. Participants gain knowledge, positioning them for pursing further education or working in the early childhood development field. Classroom topics range from fetal and child development, to child abuse prevention, financial planning, and goal setting. As a result of the collaborative efforts for Strong and Healthy families, two governmental agencies are leveraging resources in the best interest of clients at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes, child abuse and neglect, and diminished self-sufficiency, which could potentially result in perpetuating the cycle of generational poverty. The collaboration has also facilitated a coordinated delivery of services by the two agencies to ensure that clients do not “fall through the cracks.”