Helping parents with a new baby or one on the way
Parenting your new baby is the most important job you will ever have. It is also the hardest! Maine Families is here to help. Our free program is for families that are expecting a baby or who have a baby that is less than three months old.
Whether you need advice on how to soothe your crying infant, how to manage sleep (yours included), or deal with the stresses of parenting, your family visitor will come right to your home, listen to your needs and concerns, and help you to make your own decisions about what is best for you and your newest family member.
Schedule a Home Visit - We look forward to meeting you and your new baby!
To schedule a visit please contact:
Kayla Vatsinaris
Kayla.Vatsinaris@MaineHealth.org
Phone: 207-432-2719
Fax: 207-324-9524
Support for you and your baby at home
Your Maine Families visitor will meet with you in the comfort of your own home to talk about the topics that matter most to you and your family. These can include feeding, crying and development. Visits typically last between 1 and 1 ½ hours, depending on what works best for you. During the first visit, you and your family visitor will decide how often you will meet.
Giving your child a great start
The early years of life are critical to your child's later success in school and in life. Maine Families believes every child deserves the best possible start and that all parents should have the support they need to help their child succeed in life.
Our family visitors can:
- Help you plan for a healthy pregnancy
- Share tips to help your child be healthy, stay safe and learn
- Listen to your questions and concerns
- Help you find resources that meet your needs
- Connect you with other parents with new babies
- Provide your baby with a personalized infant massage by Certified Educators of Infant Massage
| Julie and Her Daughter Abigail“Maine Families has been such a blessing to our family. Having our first baby five weeks early brought a lot of challenges and unknowns to our lives, but Maine Families has helped us with the transition to being new parents! The meetings are filled with helpful information, parent education and fun activities for our baby. We learn new things at every visit and really appreciate the evaluation of our baby’s growth, development and milestones. We had a wonderful experience with learning infant massage as well. We would highly recommend Maine Families to anyone we know!” |
| Bonnie and Her Daughter Peyton"This program has helped me by allowing me to be a better parent with the information provided by my Maine Families worker. It allows me to see where my daughter is thriving and where she struggles with the information I get provided at each visit. It is a great outlet for me to ask questions without judgment and get answers. It helps me to learn more about my child and her growing stages. I now have a better understanding of my child's developmental stages and more adequate ways of teaching her more. My daughter loves it and so do I and I now know more about my child's developmental capabilities that I would have if I wasn't involved in the Maine Families program. |
| Cassandra and Her Daughter Delilah“Maine Families has been a part of our lives since right after Delilah was born. Being born six weeks early we were afraid. Afraid we would break her, afraid of what struggles we would have developmentally and physically. From the beginning we were encouraged. We have learned so much and our little peanut is shining bright. Thanks to the information we receive each time they come and resources we feel better that we are doing things right. We also love the chance each month to meet other families and for Delilah to be able to play with others at the play group.” |
| Megan and Her Son Reuben"If all that Maine Families did was come to my house and help me track milestones, it would be wonderful enough. But, my family visitor is a sounding board and a confidant. Maine Families provides resources, ideas, and a sense of community. The playgroups put me in touch with other parents and have many great activities. I am so grateful to be a part of this program." |
Professional support for you
Maine Families visitors are caring, well-trained professionals who are up-to-date with the latest early childhood and parenting research. Certified by the national Parents As Teachers model, they use a non-judgmental and compassionate approach and will empower you with skills, tools, and confidence to nurture the healthy growth and development of your baby.
Maine Families
A statewide network of community teams serving the needs of pregnant women and parents with newborns.
- Read more: http://www.mainefamilies.org/
Parents As Teachers
Parents as Teachers helps organizations and professionals work with parents during the critical early years of their children's lives, from conception to kindergarten—and the results are powerful.
- Read more: https://parentsasteachers.org/
Touchpoints
The vision of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center® is that all children grow up to be adults who can cope with adversity, strengthen their communities, constructively participate in civic life and nurture the next generation to be prepared to do the same. Touchpoints practice guides the work of Maine Families home visitors so they can discover together with parents the care and support their child needs to be healthy and ready to succeed.
Tracee Golet
Tracee.Golet@mainehealth.org
Phone: 207-432-2421
Fax: 207-324-9524