The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has just
announced awards for
another round
of home visiting grants. Ten states received a total of almost $72
million in funding for early childhood supports through voluntary home
visits to families in need. States are either establishing or expanding
their home visiting programs.
The
2010 Affordable Care Act authorized this grant funding through a
provision creating the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home
Visiting Program (MIECHV). It is intended to support evidence-based home
visiting programs that prevent maltreatment and provide parent
education and support, health screenings and other service linkages for
children and families, school preparation, and breakdown isolation and
engage families in community life. Mandatory funding for the programming
was set at $1.5 billion over 5 years, with $350 million provided in the
current FY2012.
The
MIECHV program is run jointly by the Administration for Children and
Families (ACF) and the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) and both agency leaders commented on the announcement. "These
investments will give states a significant boost in their efforts to
keep children safe and healthy," said HRSA’s Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D.,
R.N. "Helping children and families succeed involves many approaches and
voluntary home visits play a key role in strengthening families and
putting children on solid footing," said George Sheldon, the ACF acting
assistant secretary. In addition, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said,
"Home visits from an experienced counselor can help provide skills and
links to important services and early childhood education."
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