April Is Designated as Home Visiting Month by Governor Whitmer: Supporting Families, Building Confidence, Creating Community
April has been officially proclaimed Home Visiting Month in Michigan, recognizing home visiting as an essential service that supports families during the earliest and most formative years of a child’s life. In her proclamation, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted the role of evidence‑based home visiting programs in promoting healthy child development, strengthening families, improving school readiness, and connecting caregivers to resources that help children thrive from prenatal stages through kindergarten entry.
At Kalamazoo RESA, home visiting is about more than services—it’s about relationships, trust, and empowering families to navigate challenges with confidence.
“It’s so wonderful to see families come into the program feeling vulnerable, and then watch how much confidence they gain over time,” shared program staff. “Families leave knowing how to handle challenges and advocate for themselves and their children.”
Kalamazoo RESA offers two home visiting programs designed to meet families where they are and honor each family’s unique strengths and needs. Early On partners with families of children ages 0–3 to support growth and development through everyday routines and activities. Services are provided at no cost and take place in the family’s natural environment. Seeds for Success serves families with children ages 0–5, offering child development monitoring, caregiver support, and connections to community resources through trusted Family Support Specialists.
The Seeds for Success program is intentionally not cookie‑cutter. Family Support Specialists work collaboratively with parents to develop individualized plans that reflect each family’s goals, culture, and circumstances—ensuring families receive support that truly fits their needs.
Seeds for Success also offers lactation support, infant massage, and intentionally serves multilingual and refugee families, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for caregivers and children across Kalamazoo County.
Beyond one‑on‑one visits, home visiting often becomes a gateway to connection and community. Michelle Thomas, a member of the Seeds for Success team, shared that many home visiting families also attend playgroups and program events.
“These families start forming bonds with each other,” Michelle explained. “They go to the library together, attend community events together, and build really strong connections. It becomes a community they can lean on.”
During Home Visiting Month, Kalamazoo RESA proudly celebrated the impact of its home visiting programs—the families who invite staff into their lives, and the dedicated teams who walk alongside them as partners, supporters, and advocates. Together, they are building strong foundations for children, families, and the broader community.