Baby TALK
Baby TALK is a family engagement model built upon infant-mental health principles to provide a framework for intentional and individualized engagement with families. The Baby TALK mission is to positively impact child development and nurture healthy and responsive relationships during the early, critical years. Family engagement programs and professionals build strong relationships with families to support healthy child development, nurturing family-child relationships, and family well-being and growth. Baby TALK’s philosophy emphasizes working alongside families and valuing them as experts on their children.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Visits take place at least twice per month, and families may receive weekly visits when appropriate. Baby TALK recommends that families initiate services prenatally, though they may enroll at any point before the child turns 5 years old.
Baby TALK serves all families with young children. Program funding sources may define a specific service population.
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
Baby TALK was implemented by 277 home visitors in 2025. The model strongly recommends a bachelor’s degree and requires Baby TALK certification for home visitors. Home visitors usually serve 12–24 families.
Supervisors
Baby TALK was implemented by 70 supervisors in 2025. 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 in 51 local agencies across 15 states and the District of Columbia in 2025.
Families Served Through Home Visiting in 2025
Race
<1% American Indian Alaska Native
4% Asian
13% Black
<1% Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
77% White
4% Multiple
<1% Another race
Ethnicity
27% Hispanic or Latino
73% Not Hispanic or Latino
Caregiver age
7% ≤21 years
34% 22-29 years
54% 30-44 years
5% ≥45 years
Caregiver education
20% No HS diploma
35% HS diploma or GED
24% Some college or training
21% Bachelor's degree or higher
Household income
81% Low-income status
19% Not low-income status
Primary language
72% English
18% Spanish
10% Another language
Child insurance status
66% Public
25% Private
9% None
Child age
18% <1 year
56% 1-2 years
26% 3-5 years