HHS expands home visiting program
The Dept. of Health and Human Services has granted $106.7 million in awards to 46 states, Washington D.C. and five jurisdictions as part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (Home Visiting Program) established by the Affordable Care Act. The funds will allow states to continue and expand voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to women during pregnancy and to parents with young children up to age five.
“The Home Visiting Program helps to ensure that young families have the option to participate in a program that promotes their children’s healthy growth and development,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a release. “Today’s announcement provides continued funding to support local home visiting programs as they work to improve the lives of children and families.”
The Home Visiting Program builds on scientific research showing that families that choose home visits by a nurse, social worker or early childhood educator during pregnancy and in the first years of life benefit from support services for healthy children and families. Home visit programs have been shown to prevent child abuse and neglect, and promote child health and development.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.