DPH Home Visiting Information for Partners

Supporting Moms and Babies Strengthens Georgia’s Future

home visiting staff

Healthy moms and babies are the foundation of strong families, resilient communities, and a thriving Georgia. Pregnancy and the first year after birth represent a critical window – not only for health outcomes, but for child development, long-term stability, and economic security across Georgia.

Georgia has faced persistent challenges related to maternal and infant health, including higher-than-average rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. These challenges underscore the importance of early, preventative support for families – especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period, when timely care and connection can make a meaningful difference.

The DPH Home Visiting Program was established to help address these challenges by strengthening care beyond the traditional healthcare setting. 

What is the DPH Home Visiting Program?

DPH Home Visiting is a state-funded, voluntary program delivered by public health nurses and trained community health workers. The program supports expectant mothers and families with infants from pregnancy through the baby’s first birthday. Services are provided in the home or another comfortable setting and are designed to complement medical care.

DPH Home Visiting extends care beyond the provider’s office by:

  • Providing regular check-ins between healthcare visits
  • Identifying concerns early, before they escalate
  • Reinforcing provider-recommended care plans and follow-up
  • Connecting families to community-based resources and services

By meeting families where they are, the program helps reduce barriers to care and improves access to support during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Impact on Families, Communities, and the Workforce

mom and baby working with a home visitor

Healthier moms and babies help create stronger families. Stronger families help children and communities thrive. 

DPH Home Visiting contributes to:

  • Lower healthcare costs and reduced long-term public spending
  • Increased maternal workforce participation and productivity
  • Stronger long-term economic growth
  • High return on investment from early intervention

Many of the health risks that contribute to maternal and infant mortality stem from underlying or previously undiagnosed conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease. Pregnancy often represents a rare window of consistent healthcare access – creating an opportunity to identify, monitor, and address these conditions earlier.

DPH Home Visiting helps connect participants to prenatal, postpartum, and ongoing care, improving health outcomes well beyond pregnancy. By managing chronic conditions earlier and reducing preventable complications, DPH Home Visiting supports healthier parents, lowers avoidable healthcare costs, and helps sustain a more stable and productive workforce.

A Trusted Public Health Priority

The DPH Home Visiting Program is a key part of Georgia’s public health strategy to protect and improve the health of women, infants, and families. Continued legislative support allows the program to:

  • Maintain and expand a trained workforce
  • Serve more families across additional counties
  • Strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers and communities
  • Reach families early, when support has the greatest impact

Legislative support enables DPH Home Visiting to remain a trusted, statewide resource that improves maternal and infant health outcomes across Georgia and demonstrates Georgia’s commitment to supporting families and communities.

Contact DPH Home Visiting Program

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FAQs

  • What problem is the Home Visiting Program designed to address?

    Georgia continues to face serious challenges related to maternal and infant health, including preventable maternal deaths, high infant mortality, and high rates of maternal and infant morbidity, such as pregnancy‑related complications, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Many of these issues emerge outside clinical settings or after medical visits – particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period – when families may need additional support to manage health concerns and stay connected to care. The Home Visiting Program is designed to address these gaps early, helping prevent complications and improve health outcomes and quality of life for both moms and babies.

  • Who is eligible for the program?

    The program is designed to support mothers and infants facing higher‑risk situations and does not require someone to be in crisis to qualify. Eligibility may include medical concerns during pregnancy or after birth, stress or mental health challenges, limited social support, or difficulty accessing care or resources. 

  • How long does the program support patients?

    The program supports patients from pregnancy to the baby’s first birthday.

  • How does the program complement provider care?

    The program reinforces medical care by extending support beyond the clinic. Public health nurses and trained community health workers act as an extra set of eyes and ears between appointments, helping monitor maternal and infant health, screen for warning signs, reinforce care plans, and connect families to needed services. Home visitors share updates with providers and flag concerns early, supporting continuity of care.

  • Why does sustained investment matter for this program?

    Sustained investment allows the program to maintain a trained workforce, expand access across districts, and meet growing demand from families and providers. Consistent funding also supports continuity of care, long‑term outcomes tracking, and the ability to scale proven approaches statewide, helping ensure progress in maternal and infant health is maintained over time.