Home visiting programs are designed to improve the well-being of children and families. Typically, nurses, social workers, or other professionals meet with at-risk families in their homes, provide them with information and advice, and connect them to available services. Some home visiting programs have been shown to result in fewer subsequent unplanned pregnancies and increased intervals between births. Helping young parents plan and space future pregnancies will contribute to improved health, developmental, and educational outcomes for children that are consistent with the goals of many home visiting programs.
On August 20, 2010, HRSA published a supplemental information request for the submission of the statewide needs assessment as required of all states seeking funding under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. The process for fulfilling requirements necessary to receive FY 2010 Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program funding includes three steps. This guidance is the second step in the submission of the required statewide needs assessment and provides instructions for completing the statewide needs assessment required by ACA of all states irrespective of their intention to apply for home visiting grants as a condition for receiving FY 2011 Title V Block Grant allocations. The statewide needs assessments are due September 20, 2010. For a copy of the guidance, click here.
Briefly - Policy Brief: Promoting Healthy Pregnancies and Families Through Home Visiting Programs
The Affordable Care Act provides $1.5 billion over five years for evidence-based home visitation services to improve outcomes for children and families who reside in at-risk communities. Expanded investments in home visiting offer an important opportunity to ensure that families at the highest risk receive education, services, and support to discuss their goals for family size and spacing, and to plan accordingly. This brief discusses several home visiting programs that currently address these issues and identifies opportunities to incorporate family spacing as the federal government and states implement the new home visiting funding.
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On July 23, 2010, HRSA and ACF published in the Federal Register a request for public comment on criteria for evidence of effectiveness of home visiting program models for pregnant women, expectant fathers, and caregivers of children birth through kindergarten entry. Final criteria for evidence of effectiveness will be included in the program announcement inviting eligible entities to apply for funding under the Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. Comments may be submitted until August 17, 2010 by email to: HVEE@mathematica-mpr.com. For more details about the request, click here.
On July 21, 2010, the U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $88 million in grants, provided under the Affordable Care Act’s Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to support evidence-based home visiting programs. Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and five territories applied for and were awarded funding under this program to conduct statewide assessments to identify existing home visiting programs and areas of high need. These assessments will inform how to assure effective coordination and implementation of evidence-based high-quality home visiting programs that are designed to improve maternal and child health, foster healthy child development, and prevent child maltreatment. For more information, click here.
On July 21, 2010, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy held a briefing and discussion on home visiting to highlight how several different home visiting programs have included pregnancy planning and spacing as part of their strategies to improve outcomes for young parents and families. The briefing provided a unique opportunity for a small group of experts and decision-makers to explore existing research and experience, along with potential opportunities and implications, as the federal government and states implement the new Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program established in the health reform law.
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On June 25, 2010, ACF announced the availability of Fiscal Year 2010 funds for the Affordable Care Act Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program. Funds will support 5-year demonstration grants (cooperative agreements) between ACF and Federally-recognized Indian Tribes (or a consortium of Indian Tribes), Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations to conduct needs assessments; develop the infrastructure needed for the widespread planning, adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs; and provide high-quality, evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with young children aged birth to kindergarten entry. Application due date is 7/26/2010. For more information, click here.
On June 10, 2010, The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) issued the first Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the new Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, created as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act or ACA). This FOA provides instructions for States to submit an application for 2010 funding and is the first of three that will be issued to complete the FY 2010 application process. The anticipated award date award is July 15, 2010. For more information, click here.