Empowering parents to ensure the health and positive development of their children
First 5 First Steps is an in-home family support program serving expectant and new parents. Services start prenatally and continue until the child’s third birthday. Program participants include teens, military families, immigrant or refugee families, and low-income families. Home visitors partner with parents to:
- Nurture the development of healthy relationships between parent and child.
- Enhance parent knowledge about the growth and development of their child.
- Support positive parenting practices.
- Provide community referrals.
First 5 First Steps uses the Healthy Families America evidence-based model, which aims to strengthen the parent-child relationship, improve healthy child development, reduce child abuse and neglect, increase utilization of prenatal care, reduce pre-term and low birth-weight babies, increase access to primary medical services, and increase immunization rates.
In 2016:
- 100% of moms were linked to a medical home*
- 95% of babies at 6 months of age were up-to-date with their immunizations*
- 441 developmental screenings were completed with appropriate referrals made *
- First 5 First Steps achieved national accreditation by Healthy Families America in December 2016.
*preliminary data
Funding Partner: First 5 San Diego
Families & Adults
Family Support and Development 
