Mountain Empire Older Citizens (MEOC) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Healthy Families Southwest Virginia, a voluntary home visiting program that supports parents and young children across the region.
MEOC will mark the program’s 25th anniversary on Tuesday, March 31, following the agency’s annual pinwheel planting in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The planting will begin at 10 a.m. outside MEOC’s Big Stone Gap office, with a brief anniversary gathering and light refreshments to follow in the agency’s main conference room.
Launched in 2001, Healthy Families Southwest Virginia helps expectant parents and families with newborns build strong foundations for their children during the earliest and most important years of development. The program provides education, encouragement and practical guidance through trained home visitors who work directly with families.
Healthy Families serves Lee, Wise, Scott and Dickenson counties and the City of Norton. Families may enroll during pregnancy or shortly after a child is born and may remain in the program for up to three years. Today, the program serves 45 families and is staffed by eight team members.
MEOC Children’s Services Director LaDonna Hall said the program grew out of the agency’s long-standing commitment to strengthening families and preventing child abuse before it occurs.
“More than two decades ago, MEOC staff began noticing a growing number of grandparents raising grandchildren, often in very difficult circumstances,” Hall said. “That led to the creation of KinCare in 1999. But it also raised a bigger question for us: How can we help prevent neglect and abuse from happening in the first place?”
That search led MEOC to adopt evidence-based prevention models and launch Healthy Families Southwest Virginia.
“Healthy Families focuses on supporting parents from the very beginning,” Hall said. “When families feel confident, supported and connected to resources, children have a much better chance to thrive.”
Makayla Boyd, program manager for Healthy Families Southwest Virginia, said the program supports families during one of the most critical stages of life.
“Our home visitors walk beside parents as they navigate pregnancy, infancy and early childhood,” Boyd said. “Sometimes families need information. Sometimes they need reassurance. And sometimes they simply need someone to listen.”
Boyd encourages the community to attend the pinwheel planting and Healthy Families anniversary gathering on March 31.
“We hope the community will join us as we celebrate 25 years of Healthy Families Southwest Virginia,” Boyd said. “This program exists because of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to helping children and families get the best possible start.”
Healthy Families Southwest Virginia is part of Healthy Families America, a nationally recognized network of evidence-based home visiting programs.
To learn more about the program or to refer a family, click HERE.