Baby TALK
Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) is a family support model that provides a framework for community-based systems building and interventions. Baby TALK strives to positively impact child development and nurture healthy parent-child relationships during the critical early years. Home visitors build strong relationships with participants and create support systems to promote healthy attachment, encourage parental feelings of competence, reduce parental stress, promote child development, promote protective factors and resilience, and support positive family and child outcomes. See www.babytalk.org for details.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Home visits take place at least twice per month. Families with multiple risk factors may receive weekly visits. Services are provided prenatally until the child is 5 years old. Baby TALK recommends families initiate services prenatally, though families may enroll at any age prior to 5 years old.
Baby TALK serves all families with young children. Program funding sources may define a specific target population.
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
Baby TALK was implemented by 304 home visitors in 2018. The model requires a bachelor’s degree and Baby TALK certification for home visitors. The maximum caseload requirement for home visitors is 24 families, but caseloads may vary depending on families’ needs.
Supervisors
Baby TALK was implemented by 67 supervisors in 2018. The model requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience working with young children and families for supervisors.
Where is the model implemented?
Baby TALK operated across three states in 2018.
Families Served Through Home Visiting in 2018
Race
* American Indian/Alaska Native
2% Asian
18% Black
* Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
54% White
3% Multiple
22% Other
Caregiver age
14% ≤ 21 years
59% 22-29 years
26% 30-44 years
<1% ≥ 45 years
Caregiver education
25% No HS diploma
55% HS diploma or GED
15% Some college or training
5% Bachelor's degree or higher
Ethnicity
30% Hispanic or Latino
70% Not Hispanic or Latino
Household income
95% Low-income status
5% Not low-income status
Child age
48% < 1 year
47% 1-2 years
5% 3-5 years
Child insurance status
93% Public
5% Private
2% None
Primary language
60% English
34% Spanish
6% Other