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 241 full-time equivalent (FTE) home visitors in 2022. 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 54 FTE supervisors in 2022. 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 57 local agencies in 1 state in 2022.
Families Served Through Evidence-Based Home Visiting in 2022
Caregiver age
22% ≤21 years
49% 22-29 years
28% 30-44 years
<1% ≥45 years
Primary language
93% English
7% Another language
Caregiver education
22% No HS diploma
41% HS diploma or GED
29% Some college or training
7% Bachelor's degree or higher
Household income
64% Low-income status
36% Not low-income status
Child age
44% <1 year
51% 1-2 years
6% 3-5 years
Child insurance status
88% Public
8% Private
5% None