Maine Families Partnership Promotes Child and Family Well-being

The first three years of a child’s life are critical for growth and development. Early identification of developmental delays and subsequent referrals to early intervention services are essential to reduce long-term impacts. In 2024, Extension’s Maine Families home visiting programs served 233 families with 215 children through 2,146 home visits.

Parent educators work from two offices covering five counties as part of the Maine Families home visiting programs. These programs promote child and family well-being, improve maternal and child health, promote early childhood development, and reduce health disparities. Using the Parents as Teachers model, educators provide in-person and virtual home visits, offering information on child development, parenting, activity ideas, and connections to community resources.

Early treatment for developmental delays can lead to high school graduation, employment, independent living, and avoidance of teen pregnancy, delinquency, and crime, resulting in societal savings of about $30,000 to $100,000 per child. By making connections to essential resources and offering parenting guidance, these programs help build strong, healthy families and communities across the state.