Health Access Nurturing Development Services
Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) is a statewide home visiting program in Kentucky that provides assistance to overburdened parents during the prenatal period until their child is 3 years old. The model’s main goals are to promote healthy pregnancies and births, optimal child growth and development, safe homes, and family self-sufficiency.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Home visits take place weekly, beginning prenatally, until the child is 6 months old. After the child is 6 months old, visit frequency is determined by the family’s level of need. Services are offered until the child is 3 years old. HANDS requires families to initiate services prenatally or before the child is 3 months old.
HANDS’ service population includes the following:
- Families experiencing low incomes, unstable housing, or unemployment
- Caregivers who are unmarried or single
- Caregivers with limited access to education
- Families with a history of substance or tobacco use
- Families facing challenges such as marital concerns or inadequate social networks
- Caregivers with delayed or no prenatal care or history of abortion
- Families experiencing mental health concerns
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
HANDS was implemented by 239.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) home visitors in 2020. Paraprofessional home visitors must have a high school diploma. Professional home visitors must have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in a related field or be a registered nurse or social worker. Home visitor caseloads are weighted based on families’ needs; home visitors are expected to maintain an average weighted caseload of 38 to 40 families.
Supervisors
HANDS was implemented by 48.6 FTE supervisors in 2020. The model requires supervisors to be an advanced registered nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or licensed social worker.
Where is the model implemented?
HANDS operated in 60 local agencies in 1 state in 2020.
Families Served Through Evidence-Based Home Visiting in 2020
Race
* American Indian/Alaska Native
<1% Asian
8% Black
<1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
78% White
<1% Multiple
12% Another race
Child insurance status
88% Public
8% Private
4% None
Caregiver education
24% No HS diploma
40% HS diploma or GED
30% Some college or training
6% Bachelor's degree or higher
Child age
38% <1 year
58% 1-2 years
4% 3-5 years
Ethnicity
3% Hispanic or Latino
Primary language
96% English
0% Spanish
4% Another language
Household income
68% Low-income status
32% Not low-income status
Caregiver age
24% ≤21 years
49% 22-29 years
26% 30-44 years
1% ≥45 years