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Contact:

Heidi Aakjer

Executive Director

(207) 623-5120

heidia@mechildrenstrust.org


Maine Families Home Visiting

Maine Children's Trust

56 Leighton Road

Augusta, ME 04430

Policy Makers

The family visiting model developed and delivered by Maine Families is designed to promote child and family well-being. Maine Families uses current information regarding child development, health, safety, and nutrition that is based in sound research and practical knowledge of human development and public health. The program supports expectant families and families of newborns statewide. Maine Families' goals for enrolled children and families include:

  • Nurturing families and their relationships
  • Promoting positive and effective parenting
  • Encouraging healthy living, considering all aspects of development
  • Providing guidance in creating positive and creative learning environments
  • Protecting children from violence, abuse and neglect
  • Protecting children from preventable illness and injury
  • Providing connections to needed resources and the community
  • Encouraging family self-sufficiency

With this focused agenda, Maine Families is addressing the national public health priorities at the state and local levels while considering the unique needs of families in Maine. Maine Families' public health approach emphasizes prevention and early intervention while operating in a comprehensive, collaborative, community-based milieu.


Since 2006 Maine Families has incorporated the Touchpoints approach. We enhanced the existing family visiting infrastructure through training and mentoring in order to create sustainable and viable communities of practice for all child and family serving providers and agencies.


Touchpoints provides the framework for developing a seamless system of care by integrating the work of providers through a common language and approach to better meet the needs of children and families. Touchpoints provides the strategies and skills for providers to truly join the family's system and to support families by helping them to identify and use their strengths to address their challenges, and to identify and connect with their natural supports.


This website is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $6,264,897, with 0 percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. The website is also supported by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Disease Control and Prevention.