Research, Relationships, and the Power of ABC: Meet Sydney Ballenger, a 2026 National Home Visitor of the Year
When Sydney Ballenger learned she had been selected as one of the 2026 National Home Visitor of the Year, she was honored — and a little surprised.
“I knew my supervisor had submitted a nomination,” she shared, “but I in no way thought that I would receive this honor.”
Recognized during National Home Visiting Week by the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, Sydney represents a new generation of home visitors who are blending research, innovation, and heart to strengthen families.
Based in Delaware, Sydney serves as a Parent Coach and Program Coordinator with the ABC Parenting Institute, implementing the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) model across the state.
A Serendipitous Start
Sydney’s path into home visiting began at the University of Delaware, where she majored in psychology and minored in human development and family science and women and gender studies. She knew she wanted to work with children and families — she just didn’t yet know how.
That changed when she joined the ABC Lab led by Dr. Mary Dozier as an undergraduate research assistant. The lab evaluates ABC through randomized controlled trials, examining its effectiveness in strengthening parent-child relationships.
As fate would have it, while Sydney was working in the lab, ABC was preparing to launch as an independent nonprofit in order to expand dissemination — particularly within Delaware, where families had previously only accessed the model through research participation.
“It was very serendipitous timing,” Sydney explained. “I had the unique opportunity to be trained as an ABC Parent Coach while I was still in undergrad.”
She never looked back.
Today, she has spent roughly three years involved in research and two years as a direct home visiting provider. That dual lens — practitioner and researcher — shapes everything she does.
“Parents don’t often hear that they’re doing a good job. When they do, it can completely change how they see themselves.”
What Makes Home Visiting Special
Ask Sydney what stands out most about the home visiting field, and she doesn’t hesitate.
“I think home visiting is an opportunity to meet and connect with families from really diverse backgrounds and experiences,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity to be involved in my community — to support my neighbors.”
She also points to something less tangible but equally powerful: the people.
“The home visitors I’ve met are some of the most wonderful people — kind, incredibly dedicated, and deeply committed to supporting children and families.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by many in the field. Home visiting professionals often describe a strong sense of shared purpose — a unifying commitment to strengthening families, even across different models and approaches.
“Sydney has a remarkable ability to quickly establish rapport with parents from diverse backgrounds. Families genuinely love working with her, and parent feedback about her work is overwhelmingly positive. She is conscientious, respectful, and courteous, creating a safe and supportive environment that encourages growth even among families facing significant stress and adversity,” says Dr. Lindsay Zajac, Clinical Supervisor and Managing Director at ABC Parenting. “I have personally witnessed the powerful changes that occur through her work, including notable increases in maternal sensitivity among high-risk, first-time mothers who initially present with high levels of intrusiveness and inadvertently frightening behaviors.”
Parent testimonials reinforce the love for Sydney: “It was the best uninterrupted time needed for both my child and myself to enjoy each other. I felt like this time was the only time we had these amazing moments without being distracted by the outside world. In the midst of so many trials, these moments paused the negatives and focused only on happy times. I am so thankful to this program and our loyal and most amazing coach Ms. Sydney for such a great adventure we wish never ended.”
A Moment That Stays Forever
For Sydney, one memory stands above the rest.
At the final ABC session, parent coaches provide parents with a video montage of beautiful moments when parents nurtured their child, followed their lead, or delighted in their child during the program. Sydney’s very first case ended with the montage presentation. As the mother watched clips of herself playing and connecting with her son, she began to cry.
“She told me she had never thought she was good at playing with him,” Sydney recalled. “Watching it, she realized he loved playing with her. It made her feel like a good mom.”
It’s a reminder of how powerful reflection — and affirmation — can be.
“Watching a parent realize their child loves playing with them—that’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Research Meets Real Life
Unlike many direct service providers, Sydney also remains actively involved in research. As the lab wraps up a major randomized controlled trial, she has helped transition into data analysis and cleaning.
ABC’s research base is robust. Studies show improvements in parental sensitivity and children’s regulatory skills. Research has also found that children who received ABC show higher receptive vocabulary later in childhood — likely connected to increased attunement and “serve-and-return” interactions between parents and children.
Sydney embraces both sides of her work.
“I’m a big research nerd,” she laughed. “I love the data collection just as much as I love visiting with families.”
Meeting Families Where They Are
Families today face overlapping stressors — economic pressures, mental health needs, and logistical barriers. Sydney sees growing demand for accessible infant and early childhood mental health supports.
Encouragingly, ABC has been shown to be effective via telehealth as well as in-person delivery, expanding access to families who may not want or be able to host visits at home.
“We really try to meet families where they are,” she explained. Sessions have taken place in homes, libraries, apartment leasing offices, lab spaces, and online. Flexibility ensures families can access support in ways that feel safe and workable.
The Future: Precision Home Visiting
Looking ahead, Sydney envisions a more tailored system — one where families are matched with the right program at the right time.
“I’d love to see us move toward precision home visiting,” she said. “Ensuring that each family is connected to a program that meets their specific strengths, needs, and goals.”
She also emphasizes the value of a continuum of services — allowing families to engage in different models over time as their needs evolve. In Delaware, philanthropic funding allows ABC to serve families already enrolled in other programs, creating a layered, collaborative approach rather than competition.
“It’s not one-size-fits-all,” she said. “Different programs meet different needs, and together they can really strengthen support for families.”
Advice for the Next Generation
For those considering a career in home visiting, Sydney offers two pieces of advice:
Lean on your team. Supervisors, mentors, and coworkers are invaluable sounding boards. Every family is different, and collective wisdom matters.
Know the research. Understanding the evidence behind programs strengthens confidence and deepens impact.
“I feel more knowledgeable delivering ABC because I understand the research behind it,” she said. “And I think it’s incredible that so many of these programs have strong evidence supporting them.”
As National Home Visiting Week continues to grow, professionals like Sydney Ballenger remind us why it exists: to recognize the dedication, skill, and compassion home visitors bring to families every day.
From research labs to living rooms, from data collection to montage moments, Sydney’s work reflects what’s possible when science and heart come together — one family at a time.
Congratulations Sydney, on being selected as one of this year’s National Home Visitor of the Year!
ABC Parenting Institute trains and supervises parent coaches who implement ABC nationally and internationally. ABC Parenting Institute staff also implement ABC directly with families across the state of Delaware. ABC is strengths-based, focused, and brief (10, 1-hour, weekly sessions). It is intended for parents of young children (birth through 4 years of age), and children who have experienced early adversity.Due to a researched process of intensive supervision and measurable, identified ingredients of change, ABC is as effective with community parent coaches as it is in randomized trials. The active ingredient for parent behavior change is “in-the-moment” commenting, which highlight moments during the session that parents are engaging in behaviors known to enhance child attachment and regulation. Data also support the effectiveness of ABC through telehealth. Communities deserve a science-driven, parent-focused, and cost-effective strategy for promoting resilience and long-term positive outcomes for children. Learn more at: https://www.abcparenting.org/
National Home Visiting Week: Celebrating home visiting and the professionals who make this field special! National Home Visiting Week (NHVW), is a yearly observance to celebrate and recognize home visitors and the positive impact they make on maternal and child health outcomes. In 2025, the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals (Institute), an organization focused on strengthening home visiting and human service programs across the country, began this grassroots movement with nonprofit partners and elected officials across the country. The 2026 National Home Visiting Week will be held April 20-24, 2026 nationwide. Learn more at www.theinstitutefsp.org/nhvweek
Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals (Institute): The Institute is an organization focused on strengthening home visiting and human service programs across the country. The Institute offers home visitors and family support professionals everywhere the opportunity to learn new skills and grow their careers and is the national hub for personal growth, professional development and career advancement. Learn more at www.theinstitutefsp.org
#NHVW #NationalHomeVisitingWeek #NHVW2026 #HomeVisitingHeroes
Thank you to Molina Healthcare for providing 2026 corporate sponsorship, allowing us to provide a gift package to five home visitors across the country who we honor as National Home Visitors of the Year.