Family Spirit is the first and only evidence-based early childhood home-visiting program designed for and by American Indian communities; the first to demonstrate efficacy of paraprofessionals; and is uniquely tailored to address the behavioral health disparities that pose the greatest challenges to Native communities.
Family Spirit addresses intergenerational behavioral health problems, optimizes local cultural assets, and overcomes deficits in the professional health care workforce in low resource communities.
Family Spirit’s culturally-tailored intervention is delivered by community-based paraprofessionals as the core strategy to support young parents from pregnancy to 3 years post-partum. It is a behaviorally-focused intervention, responsive to parents’ and children’s needs.
Contact your local Healthy Start office today and learn how you can participate in Family Spirit today! Your family deserves the very best health and parenting education available, and Northern Plains Healthy start can deliver that free of charge through the Family Spirit program!
Our Community Health Workers are paraprofessional Health Educators trained in the use of the Family Spirit curriculum. We deliver Family Spirit Education as part of our home visiting services.