Our History
Healthy Families America (HFA) is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families wherever possible, and since 1992 we’ve been doing exactly that.
Great childhoods begin at home.
Healthy Families America (HFA) is a voluntary home visiting program launched in 1992 by Prevent Child Abuse America (formerly known as the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse), with funding from Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Freddie Mac Foundation, and is founded on the ideals of excellence, trust, and transformation. The program was designed to promote positive parenting, enhance child health and development, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Since its inception, the number of HFA program sites has grown from 25 to nearly 600, and today approximately 70,000 families are served annually in 38 states, the District of Columbia, five US territories, and Israel. HFA’s flexibility distinguishes it from other home visiting models; it can be used in a wide variety of communities, regardless of geography and demographics.
In 2011 HFA was recognized by the US Department of Health and Human Services as a one of seven proven home visiting models, a distinction that came after a thorough review of research. To date 46 home visiting models have been reviewed, with 18 models meeting criteria for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funding. Furthermore, HFA is the only national home visiting model that requires its programs to successfully complete a comprehensive accreditation process that is linked to best practice standards.
HFA Timeline
HFA receives highest rating of “well-supported” by Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse
The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse gives HFA the highest rating of “well-supported,” with the ability for states to utilize HFA, including its child welfare adaption, with federal resources made available through the new Family First Prevention Services Act.
Introducing the child welfare adaptation
Families referred by the child welfare system are now able to enroll in the program until the child reaches 24 months of age—and receive support tailored to the unique needs of their family. Learn more about the child welfare adaptation here.
A new look
HFA’s new brand identity is released to the world, reinforcing the ideal that our model is founded on the ideals of transformation, trust, and excellence.
HFAST is launched
The HFA Site Tracker, or HFAST, is launched. This new system replaces the national site profile survey and allows individual sites to be more efficient in their reporting, decreasing the amount of time required for filling out paperwork, and providing data that allows HFA to lead with a stronger national voice. HFA sites can access HFAST here.
HFA surpasses 500 sites nationwide
The number of HFA program sites surpasses 500—up from 25 less than 20 years earlier. Combined, they serve nearly 70,000 families annually in 35 states and five US territories.
HHS names HFA a “proven” home visiting model
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) names HFA one of seven “proven” home visiting models, a distinction that came after a thorough review of research. To date 46 home visiting models have been reviewed, with 18 models meeting criteria for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funding. MIECHV funding helps expand HFA and home visiting services throughout the country, providing support to families in areas where they had previously been unavailable. That same year, HFA served as one of the founding members the National Movement for America’s Children, which has since evolved into Connect the Dots.
Proof of our impact arrives from New York City
The final report of the Healthy Families New York Randomized Control Trial is published, furthering the body of evidence for HFA as a program that can make an impact on child maltreatment.
Home visiting made available to families throughout America
The Affordable Care Act is signed into law, with $1.5 billion set aside for a new program called the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, the first-ever federally funded program for all states and territories to provide evidence-based home visiting services to prenatal families and families with children up to age five. HFA is the model most frequently implemented with MIECHV dollars.
Hear more from David Willis, former director of the Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Services at the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau.
Home visiting as an evidence-based strategy
Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) is launched to provide objective and transparent assessment of the evidence for home visiting models that serve families with pregnant women and children from birth through age five. To be acknowledged as evidence-based, a model must have favorable impact in at least one of eight established domains. HFA is only model found to have favorable impacts in all eight domains.
Pinwheels for Prevention
The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign is launched nationwide, introducing the pinwheel as the new symbol of child abuse prevention.
Shining a spotlight on outcomes
HFA research spotlight briefs are released. These reports, summarizing impacts on parenting, child maltreatment, and child development, give an updated look to the outcomes that HFA is having on parents and communities throughout the country.
Independent researchers validate our approach
The second comprehensive review article on HFA outcomes is published in the Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, written by researchers Harding, Galano, Martin, Huntington, & Schellenbach.
A massive study shows HFA reduces child maltreatment
A study from Healthy Families New York is published, and the early findings of the program demonstrate an impact on reducing child maltreatment. This study is still the largest and longest-standing randomized control trial conducted to date on HFA.
Expanding our knowledge
HFA completes the first national implementation study to look at factors associated with family engagement and retention, along with many other service characteristics.
Collaboration through the Home Visit Forum
HFA, along with its evidence-based home visiting colleagues from models such as Parents as Teachers (PAT), Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), Early Head Start, and others, explore some of the major questions and issues of the time, such as How do you retain families in long-term home visiting services?
Amplifying our Research Network
HFA transforms the Research Network into Research-Practice Network, engaging 12 states with rigorous evaluations, with substantial assistance from the Packard Foundation.
First proof of positive impact is published
The first review article on HFA evaluation outcomes, written by Deb Daro and Kathryn Harding, is published in the journal Future of Children.
A new name
The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse formally changes its name to Prevent Child Abuse America, and, in partnership with the National Family Support Roundtable, the organization receives federal funding to support the growth of a national network of parent self-help and mutual support programs, which evolves into the Circle of Parents program.
National data collection begins
HFA conducts its first national site profile survey, obtaining key information to inform the growth and quality of the model.
Expanding across America
At the beginning of 1996, there are 154 HFA sites in 28 states. By October that number grows to 261 sites in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
Our first national conference…and building a foundation for research
The first HFA national conference takes place, with more than 300 attendees. Later in 1994, the Ronald McDonald House Charities renews its support of HFA by awarding the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA) another grant, this time for $2 million.
Thanks to funding from the Carnegie Corporation, NCPCA convenes the first meeting of the HFA Research Network, with more than 50 researchers in attendance who conduct an evaluation of HFA sites across 25 states.
A breakthrough in the design of our model
The HFA model more fully emerges in 1993, when NCPCA developers create a research-based structure to ensure HFA’s effectiveness and ability to be implemented flexibly in any community. While allowing communities to tailor the HFA program to fit their unique demographic needs, HFA releases its first set of “Critical Elements,” a total of 35 requirements that must be met for any site to use the Healthy Families branding.
Preparing for growth
In partnership with the Hawaii Family Stress Center, the NCPCA organizes a week-long conference in Hawaii for leadership teams from 24 states. The convening is an intensive training that establishes the Healthy Families America model and helps teams replicate the model in their own state.
Healthy Families America is launched as a family support program
With financial support from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 22 states receive site visits from Hawaii Family Stress Center staff to help ensure the proper implementation and training of staff.
Healthy Families America is also featured at the Ninth International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect.
A “national epidemic” declared
The US Department of Health and Human Services declares child abuse and neglect a national epidemic.
A national survey explores child abuse and neglect
NCPCA’s recently established National Research Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse publishes the first-ever 50 state survey of child abuse and neglect.
Want to contact us?
Interested in learning more about our home visiting programs or helping transform childhoods and communities? Get in touch—we’ll respond as quickly as we can.