Healthy Families America program at Le Bonheur has been accredited for quality service by Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA) announced that the Healthy Families America (HFA) affiliate at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital has been accredited as a provider of high quality home visitation services to families who want to improve their child’s health, nutrition and developmental outcomes.

HFA is a signature program of PCAA that has been providing home visitation services for more than 16 years. Expectant and new parents have common questions about their child’s development. HFA connects with families through community partners like hospitals and pediatricians to find the answers to their questions, meeting within the familiarity and convenience of the family’s own home. HFA is an accessible, voluntary and well received service - 90% of all the families who are invited to participate in HFA’s program accept.

“Parents want to be good parents; and as parents we all have had many questions when we realize the importance of raising a child,” said Jim Hmurovich, President and CEO of PCAA. “HFA ‘s well-trained home visitors are trusted sources in their own communities. They help provide answers to those questions and when needed, refer parents to other community services. As we congratulate Le Bonheur's Community Health and Well-Being division we also should recognize the state leadership and the community engagement that has made this a great benefit for Memphis and the Mid-South. HFA requires community agency involvement and the commitment of community leaders.”

The accreditation process is based upon a stringent set of 12 critical elements founded in 20 years of research. The process involves an in-depth examination of the site’s operation, as well as, the quality of the visits made by the family workers.

“We commend Le Bonheur for opening itself up to such an intensive review process,” said Cydney Wessel, Director of HFA Quality Assurance and Accreditation. “We believe that all families and all communities deserve access to quality home visitation services.”  

Home visitors in each community receive extensive training in a wide range of areas that can cause stress and worry to just about every new parent: caring for a crying baby, ensuring the baby is receiving the nutrition needed, promoting healthy child development and coping with the stresses of the personal relationship and financial changes that may come with an addition to the family.

“When parental stress can be managed effectively, children enjoy safer, healthier and more loving experiences, regardless of the parent’s income or standing,” says Hmurovich.