HFA Model Flexibility
HFA’s model flexibility is one of the reasons many communities ultimately choose the HFA model as the best fit for them—they can adapt it to their needs.
How does HFA adapt to the needs of YOUR community?
You determine your eligibility criteria
Each HFA site determines its criteria for eligibility based on family and community needs and existing gaps in services. HFA sites may extend the reach of HFA universally, or in a more focused way. For example, sites may choose to enroll teen parents or families in a specific geographical area. Communities often prioritize serving families who face challenges such as poverty, housing, or employment instability.
You make your own staffing decisions
HFA emphasizes the value of hiring staff with lived expertise and knowledge of the community served, increasing opportunities for diverse representation and equitable access to all positions.
You choose parenting materials that work for you
Local sites select evidence-informed parenting materials that meet the language and cultural needs of their families and can be used to support in-the-moment curiosities and questions. Family Support Specialists work to ensure each family’s unique traditions, customs, and parenting practices are included and centered.
Kathleen Strader
National Director, Healthy Families America
Healthy Families was designed from the very beginning with flexibility in mind allowing every community the ability to tailor portions of the model to meet their needs and the needs of each family.
What are some examples of how HFA flexibility has been maximized?
Through the Child Welfare Protocols
About 25% of HFA sites are currently using HFA’s Child Welfare Protocols.
Sites using the Child Welfare Protocols have a formal relationship with their local child welfare office to receive referrals and have committed to partnering with families and parents dealing with this additional layer of stress. HFA sites utilizing the protocols for working with families referred from child welfare are able to extend enrollment for families with a child up to 24 months of age.
With Indigenous Families & Communities
In 2022, HFA partnered with nearly 1,400 Indigenous Families across 55 local HFA Sites.
The HFA model has a 30+ year history of implementation with Indigenous and First Nation families in the US and Canada. Currently, Indigenous Families are being served in all regions of the country, including the Pacific Islands and Territories, West/Southwest region, Great Lakes region, Great Plains, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Caribbean.
The HFA model is customizable to meet the unique needs of families and communities
“HFA really encourages us to focus on those “in the moment” moments between home visitors and families – there’s not a prescribed curriculum or script that we should be using – it really supports us with being able to be flexible.”
Tomeaka Jupiter, HFA Training & TA Manager, Former Program Manager
