PROVIDENCE – The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $7,124,318 to Rhode Island for home visits via the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program for pregnant women and parents of young children.
The funds enable Rhode Island to continue to provide voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to women during pregnancy, and to parents with young children up to kindergarten age.
“Evidence-based home visiting programs help children get off to a better, healthier start,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas. “Today’s awards allow states to support local agencies in providing home visiting services that meet the needs of families in their own communities.”
The MIECHV Program serves almost 42 percent of U.S. counties with high rates of low birth weight infants, teen births, families living in poverty or infant mortality. More than 3.3 million home visits have been conducted through the MIECHV Program, serving parents and children in 893 counties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories. 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 improve the skills they need to support their families’ well-being and provide the best opportunities for their children,” said HRSA Associate Administrator for Maternal and Child Health Dr. Michael Lu.
“In these voluntary programs, trained nurses, social workers, early childhood educators, or other trained professionals meet regularly with expectant parents or families with young children in their homes, building strong, positive relationships with families who want and need support,” Lu said.
Nationwide, $342 million in funding was awarded to 55 states, territories, and nonprofit organizations.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
