Background

Home visitation services for high-risk parents became standardized across the military Services in 2005 as a result of Department of Defense Instruction 6400.5, "New Parent Support Program (NPSP)."  This policy defines the NPSP as a secondary child abuse prevention program that falls under the auspices of the Family Advocacy Program.

Key Points

• Program Goals.  The primary goals of the NPSP are to:
  • promote resilience and healthy parenting skills in participating families;  
  • promote the involvement of both parents (when appropriate) in home visitation services; 
  • decrease the negative effects of intermittent single parenting due to deployment and other military operations by providing proactive outreach, positive education, and assistance to family support groups; and
  • promote quality, cost-effective partnerships among the military services and between the military services and federal, state, and local agencies and private sector organizations to promote a full range of services to families living on and off the installation.
• Home Visitation Model.  The NPSP uses an intensive, voluntary home visitation model developed specifically for at-risk parents to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect of newborn and young children by promoting competent parenting, screening for risk of child abuse, providing support to high-risk families, providing classes related to parenting and child development, and offering information and referral to resources in the military and civilian communities.   Program services are also available to eligible families that are not at high risk for child abuse
• Staff Qualifications.  Every professional program staff member possesses a degree and license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Registered Nurse.  All staff must complete a criminal background check.  NPSP staff is supervised by the installation Family Advocacy Program Manager. Additionally, the program is supervised according to the policies and guidelines of the contracted agency when professional contract home visitors are used.

Eligibility

Services are offered to expecting parents and parents who have children three years old or younger (five years old for the Marine Corps).  The program accepts self-referrals in addition to those referred by a medical treatment facility, a chaplain, the service member's command, the Child Development Center, or friends and neighbors.  Participation is voluntary and available to families who live both on and off the installation.

Program Availability