On August 5, 2026, the Helping Families Together: Home Visiting and Division of Family Services (DFS) Partnership Meeting brought partners together at the Delaware Agricultural Museum for meaningful conversation, connection, and collaboration. Following a welcome from DPH Home Visiting Program Administrator Emily Thompson and opening remarks from Prevent Child Abuse Delaware Executive Director Claudine Wiant, representatives from evidence-based home visiting models—including ABC Parenting Institute, New Directions Early Head Start and Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families Delaware, and Nurse-Family Partnership—joined representatives from the DFS Treatment and Investigation units for a two-hour panel discussion and Q&A.
The panel explored key areas of collaboration, including understanding roles and services, communication and information sharing, coordination around shared families, family engagement, and positive outcomes. Panelists discussed how Home Visiting programs complement DFS services, what resources and supports are available to families, how partners can strengthen referral and communication pathways, and how information can be shared appropriately while protecting family confidentiality and maintaining the voluntary nature of Home Visiting. The conversation also focused on reducing duplication, reinforcing Family Service Plan goals, building trust with families, reducing stigma, and identifying ways partners can better coordinate support throughout a family’s journey.
More than simply sharing information, the meeting created space for thoughtful, meaningful dialogue about what strong partnership can look like in practice. Through questions, shared experiences, success stories, and reflections, participants identified opportunities to strengthen relationships between DFS and Home Visiting providers and committed to continuing the conversation. Together, partners are working toward a shared vision: more coordinated support, stronger family engagement, and better outcomes for children and families across Delaware.