Dad and baby

Model Profiles

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 come alongside them in support of healthy development, nurturing family-child relationships, and family well-being and growth.

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 233 home visitors in 2022. 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 66 supervisors in 2022. 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 78 local agencies across 11 states and the District of Columbia in 2022.

 

Families Served Through Home Visiting in 2022

62,863
home visits provided
including 15,205 virtual visits
3,869
families served
4,521
children served

Caregiver age

10% ≤21 years

37% 22-29 years

47% 30-44 years

6% ≥45 years

Caregiver education

18% No HS diploma

37% HS diploma or GED

26% Some college or training

19% Bachelor's degree or higher

Ethnicity

25% Hispanic or Latino

75% Not Hispanic or Latino

Household income

62% Low-income status

38% Not low-income status

Primary language

74% English

16% Spanish

10% Another language

Child insurance status

75% Public

23% Private

2% None

Child age

25% <1 year

62% 1-2 years

13% 3-5 years

Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.