Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) Program

The Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program is based on several key assumptions:

• All families have strengths.
• Families are responsible for their children.
• Families are the primary decision makers regarding their children.
• Communities recognize their roles in children’s lives.
• Communities recognize that all children must succeed.
• Prevention and early intervention improve the community’s well-being.
• Public and private partnerships are vital to a successful program.

HANDS providers first screen referred families for risk factors. Screening may occur prenatally or after birth until the child is 3 months old. Risk factors include unemployment; isolation; substance abuse; unstable housing; low parental education; domestic violence; poor prenatal care; depression; single parenting; noncompliance with prenatal care; unsuccessful abortion; or current use of tobacco, including prenatal and infant exposure to secondhand smoke. Any family that (1) is single, separated, or divorced; (2) began prenatal care after 12 weeks of pregnancy or has had poor care compliance or no prenatal care; (3) has considered abortion during this pregnancy; or (4) has two or more risk factors is eligible to receive services.

A trained home visitor conducts home visits. Home visitors use the Growing Great Kids™ (GGK) curriculum and provide services that focus on supporting the family, family-child interaction, child development, and personal responsibility. Services include developmental and social-emotional screenings for children and domestic violence and perinatal depression screening for parents. Health prevention is also a key focus of HANDS home visitation. Visitors work with families to establish medical homes and maintain up-to-date immunizations and well-child checks.

In addition, a registered nurse or social worker provides quarterly visits that focus on the following topics through series of questions and parent handouts called Helping HANDS for Homes: signs of premature labor, labor and delivery, home safety, basic care, nutrition, exercise, safe sleeping, effects of smoking and secondhand smoke, stress, babies’ cues, injury prevention, child development and temperament, and adjusting to parenting.

HANDS serves first-time parents beginning during pregnancy or any time before a child is 3 months old. Eligible families face multiple challenges, including single-parent status, low incomes, substance abuse, and domestic violence.

Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS)
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
(502) 564-3756

HANDS is a voluntary home visiting program designed to prevent child maltreatment, improve family functioning, facilitate positive pregnancy and child health outcomes, and maximize child growth and development. The program targets first-time pregnant mothers or parents with children up to 3 months old, who have multiple challenges, such as single parenthood, low income, substance abuse problems, or being victims of abuse or domestic violence. A trained paraprofessional or professional home visitor, such as a social worker, conducts prenatal and postnatal home visits with parents; provides parenting information, problem solving techniques, parenting skill development; and addresses basic needs. The level of services offered to families varies and is based on the needs of the family and the pace at which they progress through the program. 

For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEE’s methods and standards.