Chillicothe, OH – The Ross County Healthy Families program, an initiative of the Ross County Health District (RCHD), has been awarded accreditation by Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) for providing high-quality home visiting services to pregnant families, as well as families with infants and young children.
The program follows the Healthy Families America (HFA) model, which guides the Health Help Me Grow (HMG) Child and Family program at RCHD. Amie Unger, RCHD Child and Family Health Division Director, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “Our accreditation through PCA America shows that we are providing the highest quality of service to the families enrolled in our program. I am so proud of our dedicated team for this accomplishment.”
The HMG Home Visiting program, an evidence-based voluntary family support service, offers support to pregnant women and new parents, focusing on the healthy growth and development of babies and young children. Trained HMG home visitors provide parents with the skills, tools, and confidence to nurture their child’s development, ensuring a foundation for long-term success.
Healthy Families America (HFA) has been providing home visiting services for nearly 30 years. The program connects expectant and new parents with community partners like hospitals and pediatricians to offer support during a critical time of child development. It is a voluntary service that meets families in their homes, making it both accessible and convenient.
Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of PCA America, praised the Ross County Health District’s commitment, stating, “We congratulate the Ross County Health District and commend the staff for their leadership and commitment that has contributed to this most notable and highly regarded achievement.”
The accreditation process involves a rigorous review based on 12 critical elements, grounded in over 30 years of research. It assesses both the site’s operations and the quality of visits made by HFA home visitors. PCA America’s National Director of HFA, Kathleen Strader, commended Ross County for embracing the intensive review, emphasizing the importance of quality home visiting services for all families and communities.
One of HFA’s primary goals is to foster nurturing, responsive parent-child relationships. Home visitors are trained to address a variety of topics critical for new parents, including baby care, nutrition, child development, and managing the stresses of parenting, such as financial challenges, housing, and relationship issues.
PCA America, established in 1972, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect through education, research, public awareness, and public policy development. The Healthy Families America initiative, launched in 1992, serves families across the U.S. and beyond, improving the lives of children and families in communities nationwide.
For more information or to make a referral to the Ross County Healthy Families program, contact Amie Unger at 740-779-9652 ext. 2241 or visit https://rosscountyhealth.org/help-me-grow-home-visiting.
