HRSA awards $361 million to support families through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced today approximately $361 million in funding to 56 states, territories, and nonprofit organizations through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV Program). These funds support communities to provide voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to women during pregnancy, and to parents with young children up to kindergarten entry.

"Evidence-based home visiting programs help parents improve their family's health and provide better opportunities for their children," said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D. "These awards allow states to support local agencies in providing tailored home visiting services, meeting the specific needs of families in their own communities."

Over the past six years, the MIECHV Program has provided over 4.2 million home visits. In FY 2017, the MIECHV Program served more than 156,000 parents and children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories, and provided over 942,000 home visits. The Program reaches those most in need, serving almost 42 percent of U.S. counties with high rates of poor birth outcomes or poverty. Almost three-fourths of families participating in the program had household incomes at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

"The MIECHV Program helps parents and caregivers connect with services and resources and empowers families with the tools they need to thrive," said Laura Kavanagh, Acting Associate Administrator of HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau. "The Program's two-generation approach is aimed at improving the well-being of both parents and children across the lifespan, leading to healthier and stronger families and communities."

Administered by HRSA, in close partnership with the Administration for Children and Families, the MIECHV Program supports pregnant women and families, particularly those considered at-risk, as they raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to succeed.

For more information on HRSA's Home Visiting Program, visit http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting.

For a list of awardees, visit https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/home-visiting/fy18-home-visiting-awards.