Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Buckson & Rep. Jones Giltner
Sens. Cruce, Lawson, Lockman, Pettyjohn, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Berry, Bolden, Dukes, Harris, K. Johnson, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 172

RECOGNIZING APRIL 20-24, 2026, AS "NATIONAL HOME VISITING WEEK" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, April 20-24 has been designated as National Home Visiting Week to recognize the instrumental role home visiting plays in assisting families with young children to enhance their health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, Delaware currently has four home visiting programs: Nurse-Family Partnership, Healthy Families Delaware, Parents as Teachers, and Early Head Start Home Visiting; and

WHEREAS, these programs welcome families who are expecting a baby or have a young child and provide invaluable support to mothers and young children across the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, home visiting is orchestrated by Family Support Specialists, who conduct routine home visits and build strong relationships with families; and

WHEREAS, Family Support Specialists educate families and caregivers in developmentally appropriate activities that focus on promoting a child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development through interactive play, exploration, and learning experiences; and

WHEREAS, home visits include various activities, such as assistance with accessing quality prenatal care, providing health education around topics that include breastfeeding, safe sleep, and stress relief strategies, aiding families in supporting their child’s development, and helping create a safe and healthy environment for a young child to thrive in; and

WHEREAS, studies show a return on investment of $1.80 to $5.70 for every dollar spent on home visiting, highlighting the long-term impacts of these programs; and

WHEREAS, in 2025, Delaware served over 1,400 families and provided over 13,000 home visits, including 3,000 virtual visits; and

WHEREAS, home visiting programs strengthen families, promote child well-being, and contribute to healthier communities by providing essential support, education, and resources to parents and caregivers across Delaware.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that April 20-24, 2026, is hereby recognized as "National Home Visiting Week" in the State of Delaware.