Two Parents as Teachers parent educators—Mario Drain of Greenfield, Wisconsin, and Wendy Welch of Idaho Falls, Idaho—have been named 2026 National Home Visitors of the Year, recognizing their leadership and impact supporting families, as part of National Home Visiting Week (April 20–24, 2026).
The annual observance, launched in 2025 by the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, highlights the role of home visiting professionals in improving maternal and child health outcomes and strengthening families nationwide.
Drain and Welch were selected for their demonstrated leadership amongst 179 nominations, innovation, and commitment to serving families in their communities.
“Home visiting works because of the people,” said Constance Gully, President and CEO of Parents as Teachers National Center. “Mario and Wendy represent the very best of this field—trusted professionals who show up every day to support families, build relationships, and create lasting impact.”
Welch, a parent educator with Eastern Idaho Public Health District, has more than 20 years of experience and has expanded access to home visiting for Spanish-speaking families while leading efforts to support incarcerated parents and their children. Families describe her as a steady and compassionate presence, with one parent noting her support “helped guide me and my children through grief.”
Welch said, “As a home visitor I am inspired every day by how parents show up- they are doing the best they can, often in very trying circumstances. I love it when I walk through the door and they are excited to tell me the new things that have been happening- whether good or bad. One of the most thrilling parts of being a home visitor is sharing in the “a-ha” moments that happen on a home visit when parents look at me with pure joy as a child accomplishes something that they have been working on together”
Drain, a parent educator with the City of Milwaukee Health Department, is recognized for his work engaging fathers and strengthening family relationships. Through his leadership, he has helped fathers feel seen and supported as caregivers. One participant shared, “Mario’s help has been dope! He is like a brother.”
Drain said, “Being recognized for the work that I do was never a desire, but I must admit it feels great! I love the work that I do and the thing that inspires me to keep going are the fathers that I serve. They are the ones who truly deserve the recognition! They are the ones changing the narrative and removing the negative connotations associated with fatherhood.”
National Home Visiting Week is open to all home visiting and family support professionals and reflects a growing national effort to recognize the field’s impact across programs and communities.
Home visiting connects pregnant and parenting families with trained professionals who provide individualized support, developmental guidance, and connections to resources during a child’s earliest years.
Parents as Teachers is one of the nation’s leading evidence-based home visiting models, serving more than 188,000 families across all 50 states, 138 tribal organizations, and six countries, and supporting a network of more than 8,600 professionals through over 2,200 partner organizations.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers creates strong communities, thriving families, and children who are healthy, safe, and learning by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals for regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten. With over 188,000 families served in all 50 U.S. states, 138 tribal organizations, and six other countries, the Parents as Teachers evidence-based home visiting model is backed by over 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Annually, Parents as Teachers National Center supports over 8,600 professionals and partners with 2,200 organizations, including school systems, social service nonprofits, health departments, tribal organizations, and military installations.