Federal funding for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program runs out March 31 unless Congress acts beforehand.
Funding decisions are rarely easy, but this evidence-based program reaps benefits that justify its $400 million cost.
MIECHV funds voluntary home visitation services for at-risk young parents from the time of pregnancy until the child turns three. The federal dollars strengthens quality and expands access to Kentucky’s Health Access Nurturing Development Services program commonly known as HANDS.
Together these programs help parents understand child health and development with the support of trained professionals who visit with them in their homes. Visitors and parents focus on basic care, immunizations/well child, home safety checklists, child social/emotional brain development, developmental screening and nurturing parent child relationships and parent and family supports.
The program is voluntary, but participation leads to improved birth outcomes: 26% fewer premature births, 46% fewer low birth weight babies, 94% fewer deaths in the hospital, 74% lower infant mortality state-wide and 50% fewer emergency room visits and a 47% reduction in child abuse and neglect.
These outcomes result in healthier, safer children who are better prepared for school. It’s been shown that their test scores and grade point averages throughout elementary school are higher. The program also leads to increased education attainment and higher employment for participating parents.
Home visiting programs such as HANDS improve families and children’s lives and save the state costs down the road.
Ready Nation, a business leadership organization says that businesses benefit from home visitation too because the services help build a productive workforce and help prevent negative outcomes such as child abuse and neglect that waste public resources and hinder economic vitality.
Funding for MIECHV for two years is now part of a bipartisan, bicameral proposal in the House that repeals the sustainable growth rate (SGR) for doctors providing Medicare that was released March 25. The House is expected to vote on the funding measure March 26. The Senate might also vote in it before they leave Washington for the two-week recess March 27.
Kentucky’s Voice for Early Childhood, the Prichard Committee and Kentucky Youth Advocates are working with children’s advocates around the country to urge members of Congress to support this important program. Go here to lend your support.
Mike Hammons is director of advocacy for Children Inc. in Northern Kentucky.