Home visiting program expands in Spokane

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Children’s Home Society of Washington has received $209,000 in funding to provide home visiting to families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides temporary cash assistance for those in need. 

The pilot project supports 36 families in Children’s Home Society of Washington’s Parents as Teachers program where a certified home visitor provides parents knowledge and resource to help support their child’s development. Parents also receive support in setting and achieving goals for education, employment and other areas that will help move their family out of poverty. 

Parents as Teachers is free to eligible parents throughout pregnancy until the child reaches age 3.

Partners in the pilot include Thrive Washington, Department of Early Learning, Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Commerce. 

The program brings together TANF funds and the state’s Home Visiting Services Account, which is managed by the Department of Early Learning and Thrive Washington. The account uses combinations of federal, state and private dollars to provide home visiting services to about 2,300 families.