What is Community Families?

Community Families is a Parent Support Home Visiting Programme. The Home Visitor provides support and information to parents from pregnancy until their child is 3 years of age. It puts parents first, supporting them in their new relationship with their child. Parents are connected with a trained Home Visitor who supports them to become confident and grow as parents.

Supporting & empowering parents through home visiting

Benefits of Community Families

• Parents feel supported in their new role
• Parents are supported to form strong attachments with their babies and children
• Parents receive information on all aspects of baby’s development
• Parents build social networks
• Families are linked to other services as appropriate e.g. Public Health, Counselling, Social Prescribing

Values: Community Families has taken the core values of the Community Mothers Programme, which have been tried and tested over its 40-year history. Community Families know that families thrive when they are supported in a way that meets them where they are at – in their homes, communities and daily lives.

How does it work and how do I get in touch?

• It is a free support, open to all parents and families living in our catchment area.
• Get in touch directly with us by completing our online referral form, on 067-31800 or info@silverarchfrc.ie or you can ask your PHN, GP or other services to make a referral.
• Once you’ve contacted us, we will arrange for a member of our Home Visiting team to get in touch with you. During this first home visit, you get to meet, chat and ask questions with your home visitor.
• They can tell you more about how the Programme can support you and what other Community supports are available to you.
• They will be keen to get to know you and find out how they can support you, your child and your wider family.

If you would like to continue, your home visitor will arrange a follow-up visit. Your Home Visitor will then discuss what supports you may require. They can then plan your future visits to meet your individual needs.
Community Families is governed by Health Service Executive( HSE) and Tusla, The Child and Family Agency