HOME VISITATION 

HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA®

The AVPH Healthy Families America® (HFA) Home Visitation Program is a voluntary supportive service that enhances the lives of at-risk children and family’s living in the Antelope Valley. By supporting new parents prenatally as they prepare for the birth of their child, or those who have recently given birth, HFA home visiting services focus on a family’s experiences and healthy start with baby, while creating a secure foundation for parenthood. 

Direct service home visitation support is guided by the needs of the family, their values, and culture.     

As an Affiliate of the HFA evidence-based, national home visiting model, new parents will partner with their Family Support Specialist to learn about:   

• Services are FREE
• Family’s may participate through their child’s 4th year of life.  
• Prenatal and Postpartum education, lactation support, self-care, & baby care basics  
• Family centered services which strive to build healthy, safe relationships 
• Parent-Child activities which stimulate a child’s optimal growth and development   
• Comprehensive service planning to include family goal setting and celebrating achievements 
• Protective factors that enhance bonding and attachment, child health and safety; promote healthy family relationships, resiliency, and overall emotional and physical wellness  
• Resources, referrals, and information to strengthen a family’s community connections and overall capacity to thrive 

For more information on this program, or how you can voluntarily enroll Click Here to access our HFA Home Visitation Program flyers in Spanish & English.  

HOME VISITATION WELCOME BABY

Welcome Baby is a free, community-wide, voluntary program that provides hospital and home-based support for pregnant and postpartum women. This program provides parents an opportunity to meet with a personal Parent Coach in the comfort of their own home to learn about the following topics:

• Positive Parenting
• Child health and development
• Constructive play ideas
• Developmental screenings
• A resource network that links parents/caregivers to other community services

All families need support to raise a healthy baby and Welcome Baby wants to provide families with that extra care. This program is open to all families, regardless of income status, and is offered during pregnancy and throughout the baby’s first nine months

LACTATION CENTER

AVPH’s Lactation Center offers a safe and private place for new moms needing support and education regarding breastfeeding and nutrition. The center strives to provide the highest quality, individualized support and assistance to the mother and her baby for the duration of their breastfeeding relationship.

KINSHIP

Program Description: RHAS Workers assist Relatives and Non-Relative Extended Family Members (NREFM) in getting approved through the Resource Family Approval Process to receive benefits for becoming caregivers. RHAS Workers provide families with a 12-hour Pre-Approval Training, an 8-hour Post-Approval Training, CPR and First aid training, and more.

Relative Home Assessment Program

RHAS workers assist Relatives and Non-Relative Extended Family Members (NREFM) residing in Lancaster, in getting approved through the DCFS Resource Family Approval Process to receive caregiver benefits. RHAS workers provide families with a 12-hour Pre-Approval Training, an 8-hour Post-Approval Training, CPR and First aid training, and more.

KINSHIP

Program Description: RSS Workers offer supportive services to any Relative, Non-Relative Extended Family Members (NREFM) and children residing with them; including linkage to community resources and/or emergency needs

Relative Support Services

RSS workers offer supportive services to any Relative, Non-Relative Extended Family Members (NREFM) and children residing with them, residing in Lancaster.  Services include linkage to community resources and/or emergency needs, if approved.

AVPH Food Pantry

Program Description:

The AVPH Food Pantry takes place every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. With food pantry support tools from CalFresh Healthy Living- Healthy Communities Initiative, we have improved the types of foods being distributed at our pantry. During pantry hours AVPH:

• Conducts healthy food demonstrations and taste tests
• Provides recipes and food resources
• Serves emergency hot meals prepared by Café AVPH (Every Friday)

CalFresh Healthy Living-Healthy Communities Initiative

Program Description

This program aims to reduce obesity among SNAP-Ed eligible populations. Through this program, Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) collaborates with local food pantry partners to establish the distribution of healthier food options to the community. For more information visit: http://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/healthyliving

Smoke- Free Outdoor Areas

Program Description:

This program aims to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor areas. With tobacco support tools from Tobacco Control Policy Program (TCPP), we have surveyed over 1,350 residents in the AV with over 70% of residents reporting being exposed to secondhand smoke in outdoor areas in the last year. 

Ways you can help:

• Join our local coalition (Palmdale or Lancaster)
• Participate and attend community events with us
• Educate the community about secondhand smoke
• Write letters and speak with City Council Members 

Follow us on Instagram @smokefreeAV or Facebook @SFOA AV Coalition

CALFRESH

Program Description:

AVPH is partnering with Golden State Opportunity outreach program to increase CalFresh enrollment in targeted zip codes within Los Angeles County. We’ll be working with community groups in areas of Antelope Valley whose service areas have a high number of potentially eligible people, in order to host public benefits outreach and enrollment events, with a special focus on CalFresh. That’s because, starting in June 2019, 500,000 Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries in California became newly eligible for CalFresh. Of that total, 200,000 are right in Los Angeles County.

For more information visit: MyPublicBenefits.org

CAL EITC 4 ME

Program Description:

AVPH has partnered with Golden State Opportunity on a Statewide outreach campaign to encourage low-income Californians to claim the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits. This campaign brings together multiple state agencies and broad coalition of local and statewide community, faith, civic, education, workforce, business, media organizations and leaders committed to fostering economic opportunity and financial security for low-income working Californians.

In support of the efforts, AVPH along with Goldarn State Opportunity will be hosting four free tax preparation events in the Winter of 2020.

For more information visit: https://caleitc4me.org/

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV) VACCINE AWARENESS PROGRAM

Program Description:

This program aims to improve knowledge about the need for HPV vaccination and reducing vaccination uptake barriers among low-income and underserved populations, including African American, LatinX, and LGBTQ+ populations.

Educational Sessions are provided to, but not limited to:

• Community-based organizations and partners
• Community members, such as parent groups
• School districts
• Health clinics

Building strong partnerships with:

• Medical offices
• Local hospitals
• Government entities

FREE VIRTUAL TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM

Program Description:

This program is an evidence-based tobacco cessation program that promotes positive health behavior change.  The program includes six sessions that are 1.5 hours per session geared toward a successful tobacco-free life.

Lessons include learning about:

• Hazards of tobacco use
• What is tobacco cessation
• Healthy living skills