Home Visitation

About the Program

This is a convenient service providing visits in your home or another place by a nurse, social worker, and/or dietician for Medicaid eligible pregnant women, babies, and children up to age 5. Parent Educators use the "Parents as Teachers" and "Circle of Security" model during these visits and can provide a variety of screening, resourcing, and education. We also offer Circle of Security Parenting Groups at various locations in the community. Interested parents can also sign up for the Health Montana Families Project home visitation program. 

Sign up during pregnancy or until your child turns one year old and actively participate in our Parents as Teachers education.

Visitor Questions

Home visitors can help you answer questions like:

  • How can I reduce stress in my life?
  • How do I find community services?
  • Is my baby healthy and on track?
  • What am I supposed to feed my baby?
  • Where can I find information about pregnancy?

Before Baby is Born

Before your baby is born, public health home visitation can help with the following:

  • Assisting with the Medicaid application process if necessary
  • Finding pregnancy medical care and other community services
  • Helpful hints during your pregnancy
  • Helping you get ready for your baby
  • Making your pregnancy as healthy as possible
  • Understanding physical and emotional changes

After Baby is Born

After your baby is born, public health home visitation can help you and your baby with concerns about:

  • Breastfeeding and attachment
  • Child safety and childproofing your home
  • Immunization information
  • Parent-child interaction
  • Parenting concerns and baby cues
  • Postpartum depression screening
  • SIDS (crib death) prevention
  • Stages of development, including a free developmental screening

Program Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

  • Assure mothers and children receive maternal child health services
  • Reduce infant mortality and the number of low birth weight babies

Montana has approximately 12,000 births per year and 15% of them may be considered high risk due to medical, social, or economic reasons.

Helpful Resources

For more information on this service, call 406-791-9299 and ask for Better Beginnings.