District Health Department #2

Family Matters Program

Family Matters is a home visiting program for pregnant mothers & families with children birth to age four focusing on child health and development, parenting support, school readiness and connections to community resources. 

Currently Family Matters Program is available only in Oscoda County (Mio-Fairview-Comins & surrounding areas).  Due to state funding issues, the program is NOT currently available in Ogemaw, Iosco, or Alcona Counties.  

Family Matters Program Fast Facts

Family Matters Program…

1. Promotes health & child development for children ages 0-4 (healthy pregnancies too!)
2. Provides parenting education & support
3. Offers connections & coordination with other community resources

Family Matters is a strength-based program. This means that instead of focusing on the things that aren’t working, the focus is building upon the family’s existing strengths to make things better.   We recognize the family as the focal point for your child’s well being.

Family Matters serves pregnant mothers and families with children birth to age 4.

The program is confidential and on a completely voluntary basis. Families can enroll in the program at their own request or can be referred by others.

Each enrolled family will receive home visits from an experienced Family Advocate that is trained in child health & development and parenting support.

Home visits consist of discussion and activities concerned with your child’s health & development, parenting support, and connections with other community resources. This specifically includes:

• Use of a comprehensive collection of early-childhood learning, parenting principles, and effective discipline education materials.
• Use of developmental screening and measurement tools such as “Ages & Stages”. This helps parents follow their child’s progress, recognize successes, and identify areas that may need extra attention. We want to help you prepare your child to succeed when they get to school – learning begins at birth!
• Coordination with other health department services such as WIC, immunization, and well-child clinics. 
• Optional coordination, referrals, and advocacy for other community resources and programs.

The program concludes when:

• Family chooses to no longer participate.
• Family moves out of the area and/or is transitioned to another appropriate service.
• Family “graduates” by either completing program requirements or the youngest child turns 4 years old.

Family Matters is free and has no income requirements. The program operates in the entire DHD #2 district: Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, & Iosco Counties. 

Oscoda County - Mio DHD#2 office  826-3970

Some services Family Matters Program does not directly provide: individual counseling, therapy,

transportation, or financial assistance. However, referral to those services is available upon request.