National Home Visiting Week: Patricia’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 Patricia Jewell, Healthy Families Home Visitor at Tufts Medicine

18 years supporting families in the Melrose/Wakefield area.

As a home visitor for nearly two decades, Patricia Jewell has been a steady, compassionate presence for families in her community. Her approach is rooted in kindness, respect, and building strong relationships.  

“I enjoy working in this field [Home Visiting] and watching the bond between parent and child explore and grow.” 

Patricia Jewell, Healthy Families Home Visitor

Home visitors, like Patricia, connect families with concrete supports that help reduce stress so parents can focus on building nurturing bonds and safe homes for their children. 

These supports help ensure families have what they need not just to get by, but to thrive.  

But home visitors do more than just connect families to resources. They walk alongside parents in the parenting journey, providing support, guidance, and stability. Each family is unique and the approach to support is different. To help home visitors in this challenging role, Patricia shared that the trainings provided by the Children’s Trust have helped her understand the different ways she can meet each family’s unique needs.   

Thank you, Patricia, for your dedication and enduring commitment to 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.