Apr 16, 2026
Host Janet Michael sits down with Jodi Young, Executive Director of Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Tracy Mitchell, Manager of Valley Health's Wellness Services and Risk Reduction, to explore a free home visiting program that supports new and expectant parents from pregnancy through a child's fifth birthday — and why April's Child Abuse Prevention Month makes this conversation especially timely.
What You'll Learn
- What Healthy Families is and how the home visiting model works
- Who qualifies for the program and how to enroll
- Why the first five years of a child's life are so critical for development
- How Valley Health supports Healthy Families as its host agency
- How the community can donate, fundraise, or spread the word
Key Takeaways
- Healthy Families serves families from 20 weeks prenatal through age 5, with visits as frequent as once a week in the early months
- The program is completely free — no income guidelines, no insurance requirements
- Services include parenting education, developmental screenings, and referrals to community resources
- Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley is one of 28 sites across Virginia and serves Winchester City, Frederick County, Warren County, and Clarke County
- The program is rooted in evidence-based research showing that home visiting reduces child abuse and neglect
- Valley Health provides operational support including grant writing, marketing, and foundation resources
How to Get Involved
- Donate supplies: diapers, formula, car seats, pack-and-plays, baby blankets
- Organize a drive: Get your church group, workplace, or community organization involved
- Make a monetary donation
- Spread the word: Share with pregnant friends, family, or anyone who might benefit
- Contact Healthy Families NSV directly to ask about current needs
Find Healthy Families NSV