Beyond Home Visiting: Stories From the Field in South Los Angeles

“It’s the best thing that could have happened to us as first-time parents.”

That’s what Sandra and Luis said about the free in-home support services offered by Lundquist – South Los Angeles Health Projects (SLAHP). The Inglewood-based Lundquist-SLAHP uses the Healthy Families America model for their home visiting program to serve those who are expecting or have recently given birth. They are part of the Family Strengthening Network, which is funded by First 5 LA.

In May 2024, Lundquist-SLAHP held a luncheon at the Dollarhide Community Center in Compton for families who participate in this program. Similar to the luncheon they held in June 2023, families were recognized at this event for their accomplishments in the program.

LA Best Babies Network interviewed three families at the event about their home visiting experience. (See videos below.)

In addition to Sandra and Luis, we talked to Angie, who shared how her home visitor helped her through an abusive relationship. “Here she was going to visit me every day, not knowing how much it meant for her to just enter my home, and I felt safe.”

Nexus told us that she was quick to get her pregnant foster teenager in the program. “I knew with [home visitor] Cheryl that she would kind of direct her into counseling,” she said.

Each of these testimonies highlights how home visitors go beyond just providing support during scheduled visits. These families received resources, emotional support, and tools to help them with their parenting journey.

Find a free home visiting program for yourself or someone you know in L.A. County.

Watch these videos to hear how home visiting programs help … in so many ways!