National Home Visiting Week: Valdemira’s Story

Celebrating National Home Visiting Week

The Children’s Trust is proud to join organizations across the country in celebrating National Home Visiting Week April 20-24. 

Home visiting programs, like Healthy Families Massachusetts, connect families with trained home visitors who partner with parents to provide support, guidance, and resources during the earliest, and most critical, years of a child’s life. Home visiting is linked to lower maternal depression, greater housing stability, reduced involvement with child welfare, and improved child development outcomes. 

The Children’s Trust partners with local organizations to implement Healthy Families Massachusetts within their communities, ensuring families have the support they need to thrive.

This week, we’re honored to spotlight the dedicated home visitors who are making a difference for children and families every day.  

Meet Valdemira Andrade, Healthy Families Home Visitor at Southeast Massachusetts Council on Advocacy (SEMOA) 

Two years supporting families in the Brockton area. Valdemira completed 307 home visits in fiscal year 2026, the highest total across the Healthy Families Massachusetts network, reflecting a strong commitment to showing up consistently for families.

What is one lesson you have learned this year or piece of advice 
about how to work with families that might be helpful to other home visitors? 

One lesson I’ve learned this year is the importance of meeting families where they are, without judgment. I’ve also learned that small observations matter, pointing out positive interactions. 

Why did you choose a career in home visiting and family support? 

I chose a career in home visiting and family support because it allows me to make a meaningful impact and be there for some of the most important moments in a family’s life.

Can you share a story or example of a family you worked with that 
was really meaningful to you in the past year? 

One meaningful experience this past year was working with a family who was going through a domestic violence situation, with DCF becoming involved during that time. Mom later expressed concerns about her baby’s development, and I provided information and support so she could connect with Early Intervention, which she followed through with. At the beginning, the family was under a lot of stress and had difficulty communicating, but over time, both parents engaged in couples therapy, reflected on their actions, and worked on improving how they interacted and supported each other. During home visits, I focused on developmental activities for the baby, and the child began showing clear progress, including increased speech and starting to form short sentences, which the mom proudly shared through videos. Over time, the parents completed therapy, their communication improved, DCF closed the case, and they were able to rebuild their relationship in a healthier and more stable way while creating a more supportive environment for their child. 

Tell us about how the training you receive supports your work with families. 

The training I receive supports my work with families by helping me better engage and understand them in a respectful, strengths-based way. Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) training has helped me meet families where they are and use active listening to build trust, while culture training helps me recognize and respect different family beliefs and practices without judgment. The Fatherhood Conference helped me better understand the father’s perspective, which has encouraged me to intentionally engage fathers during visits, support their involvement, and recognize the positive role fathers have in their child’s development and overall family well-being. 

How does the work you do as a home visitor impact the larger community? 

The work I do as a home visitor impacts the larger community by supporting parents during pregnancy and early childhood. I help improve child development outcomes, reduce risk factors such as neglect or family stress, and connect families to important resources. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work, your program, your 
families, or your community? 

The work I do as a home visitor impacts the larger community by strengthening families early, which helps create healthier, more stable environments for children and reduces future challenges in the community. What I would add is that Greater Brockton Healthy Families has a strong, supportive team, and we work together and support each other day by day. It is a safe environment where I feel comfortable speaking with coworkers, supervisors, the coordinator, and the director. Whenever I go through challenging situations with families, they consistently show up, provide guidance, and support me, which makes a big difference in helping me stay grounded and continue to provide effective support to the families I serve. 

Thank you, Valdemira, for all that you do to support children and families across the Commonwealth.  

About National Home Visiting Week 

This story is part of National Home Visiting Week (April 20–24), a nationwide celebration recognizing the critical role home visitors play in supporting families and strengthening communities. Throughout the week, we’re highlighting home visitors across Massachusetts who provide trusted guidance, build meaningful relationships, and help ensure children and families have the support they need to thrive from the very beginning.