Inside our CBVS Program

Building trust, supporting parents, and helping families create stability – one visit at a time. 

When we talk about mental health, it’s easy to think about therapy or clinical care. But home visiting support for families looks different. It happens in everyday moments: through connection, consistency, and feeling heard. 

That’s where our Community-Based Voluntary Services (CBVS) home visiting program comes in. 

CBVS is a home visiting support program for families focused on building stability and connection. CBVS works alongside families who have had past involvement with DCYF but are ready to move forward. These are families navigating real-life stressors: co-parenting challenges, housing concerns, parenting struggles, and the everyday weight of trying to do what’s best for their children. As a family support program, CBVS focuses on stability, connection, and practical support in the home. 

While CBVS is not a clinical service, it plays an important role in supporting family mental health through consistent, relationship-based support. 

Creating Space Without Judgment 

From the very first visit, CBVS staff focus on building trust. 

They show up in a non-judgmental way, creating space where families can be honest about what’s going on in their lives. That might look like a simple check-in, a conversation about stress, or talking through what self-care could realistically look like in a busy household. 

Staff listen first, ask thoughtful questions, and work alongside families to figure out what feels possible. 

Conversations That Build Confidence 

One of the key tools CBVS staff use is motivational interviewing: a conversation approach that helps families feel heard, respected, and in control of their own goals. 

Instead of directing, staff ask open-ended questions: 

• What’s been challenging this week?  
• What got in the way of that goal?  
• What’s worked well before?  

These conversations help families feel heard and respected. Over time, families begin to take the lead, naming their own goals and identifying solutions that fit their lives. 

In one recent example, a parent who had struggled to engage in services for months came to a visit with a list – her own list – of goals she wanted to work on. That moment marked a meaningful shift toward confidence, ownership, and hope. 

Small Wins That Matter 

In CBVS, progress isn’t measured only in big milestones. 

Sometimes, it’s: 

• Submitting an application for food assistance  
• Showing up to a parent-teacher meeting  
• Creating a simple plan for the week  

These moments build confidence. They help families move out of survival mode and begin building stability step-by-step. 

A Strengths-Based Approach 

CBVS uses a strengths-focused model called Solution-Based Casework. This approach helps families recognize what’s already working and build from there. 

They ask questions like: 

• When has this gone well before?  
• What was different in that moment?  

Even in difficult situations, there are always small exceptions; moments of success that can be built upon. Those moments become the foundation for future progress. 

Why Trust Matters Most 

At the heart of everything CBVS does is trust. 

Without it, families can’t fully open up. With it, they can begin to share honestly about stress, depression, or challenges they may not feel safe talking about elsewhere. 

Trust grows through consistency, transparency, and showing up, week after week. Even during difficult conversations, that relationship remains the foundation for progress. 

A Short Window, A Lasting Impact 

CBVS works with families for just six months, meeting frequently—often twice a week. This short-term, intensive home visiting model helps families address immediate stressors and focus on long-term goals. 

The work centers on helping families build a strong foundation that they can continue long after the program. 

Breaking the Misunderstanding 

Because referrals come through DCYF, there can be hesitation at first. 

Some families may feel unsure about what CBVS is or why we’re there. 

In reality, the focus is simple: supporting families as they work toward their goals, strengthen relationships, and create the future they want for their children. 

As one staff member put it best: 

“We’re helping families move forward where they want to be, and building the  foundation to get there.” 

Home visiting support for families creates lasting change; one relationship at a time.