First Teacher
First Teacher Home Visiting for Families

Home Visiting Models

Click on a model for more information.

An Introduction to First Teacher

The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) is Alabama’s designated lead agency for home visiting, aligning it with the department’s prenatal to 3rd grade system initiatives.

The ADECE provides grants funding for voluntary First Teacher programs that focus on school readiness, child and family health and well being as well as helping families access resources in their communities. ALL ADECE-funded programs use an evidence-based home visiting model that matches families with trained professionals to provide information and support. Programs may enroll pregnant women and continue to serve the family until the child enters kindergarten. While services may be received elsewhere, the home is the primary setting for service delivery.

First Teacher Home Visiting programs serve families in all 67 counties across Alabama. Because of limited financial resources, even counties offering home visiting services may have families on waiting lists.

Mission

First Teacher Home Visiting utilizes three national models: Nurse Family Partnership, Parents as Teachers, and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) that collectively focus on six areas:

  • Improving maternal physical and mental health
  • Reducing physical abuse
  • Improving treatment of children (including health and nutrition)
  • Promoting economic self-sufficiency for families
  • Educating families on how to use the resources that are available to them in their area
  • Promoting school readiness

The ADECE 2023-2024 First Teacher Home Visiting Grant Applications are open in Foundant for completion. This competitive grant process is for NEW First Teacher Home Visiting Programs.  Click the button below.  Use the access code: 23FT to apply for the grant.

First Teacher Programs Deliver Results

For more information, contact Kesha Whitehead, PAT State Lead at kesha.whitehead@ece.alabama.gov, or call (334) 832-8171 or Jani Johnson, HIPPY State Lead at jani.johnson@ece.alabama.gov, or call (334) 832-8139.