MIECHV for Policy Makers

Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program

Information for Policy Makers

What is Home Visiting?

Home visiting is a service offered in-home to support positive parenting, nurturing homes, and child development. Families voluntarily participate in in-home visits with a trained home visitor. Most often, home visiting programs serve pregnant women, fathers, caregivers, and their children birth through 5 years of age. Most families participate in home visiting for one to three years. Many scientific studies have shown positive impacts of home visiting for children and families.

In a 2010 report published by Pew Charitable Trust, high quality home visiting programs have been proven to:

Decrease the incidence of low birth weight births by nearly half, yielding cost savings between $28,000-$40,000 for each averted low birth weight birth;
Reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect almost by half; and
Increase children’s critical pre-literacy skills and later improvements in achievement test scores.

In another report, authors synthesize home visiting research conducted over years and suggest that quality home visiting programs lay the foundation for children's healthy development and are a cost saving investment because many costly social concerns–school failure, child abuse, and the use of social services–are prevented.”

What is MIECHV?

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program is a federal program enacted into law through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010. This legislation authorized the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to States and Tribes to implement evidence-based early childhood home visiting programs to the sum of $1.5 billion over five years. To receive first year funds, states were required to conduct a statewide needs assessment and develop a state plan. Evidence-based home visiting services are targeted to communities identified as at-risk in the statewide needs assessment. The legislation also outlines the eligible and priority populations to receive voluntary home visiting services and outcomes that states must measure and see improvement.

To achieve the program objectives outlined in the legislation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made available three types of grants:

Formula: Awarded to States on based on population and poverty levels, all States eligible
Competitive: Awarded to States based on merit of application
Tribal: Awarded to Tribal Nations based on merit of application

Who Does MIECHV Serve?

Outlined in the MIECHV legislation,the following eligible and priority populations to receive voluntary home visiting services:Pregnant women, infants, young children birth through five years old, and their families. Most home visiting programs further define program eligibility to participate in those home visiting programs. Legislation outlines populations which MIECHV programs should provide priority enrollment.

Program Priority Populations

Eligible families who reside in communities in need of such services, as identified in the statewide needs assessment required under subsection (b)(1)(A):

Low-income eligible families.
Eligible families who are pregnant women who have not attained age 21.
Eligible families that have a history of child abuse or neglect or have had interactions with child welfare services.
Eligible families that have a history of substance abuse or need substance abuse treatment.
Eligible families that have users of tobacco products in the home.
Eligible families that are or have children with low student achievement.
Eligible families with children with developmental delays or disabilities.
Eligible families who, or that include individuals who, are serving or formerly served in the Armed Forces, including such families that have members of the Armed Forces who have had multiple deployments outside of the United States.

What are MIECHV's Goals?

State MIECHV programs are required to measure and show some improvement in the following outcome areas:

Improvements in prenatal, maternal, and newborn health, including improved pregnancy outcomes.
Improvements in child health and development, including the prevention of child injuries and maltreatment, and improvements in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical developmental indicators.
Improvements in parenting skills.
Improvements in school readiness and child academic achievement.
Reductions in crime or domestic violence.
Improvements in family economic self-sufficiency.
Improvements in the coordination of referrals for, and the provision of, other community resources and supports for eligible families, consistent with State child welfare agency training.

Which Home Visiting Programs are Evidence-Based?

MIECHV legislation specifically outlines the requirements for how a home visiting program is considered “evidence-based.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families conducts ongoing extensive literature reviews to determine which home visiting programs meet the criteria to be considered “evidence-based.” This study is called the Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness study. The Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness study has concluded that the following home visiting models may be implemented by state and tribal MIECHV programs:

What is the Idaho MIECHV Program?

The Idaho Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program is administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in the Division of Public Health. The Idaho MIECHV program has been awarded a formula grant to implement evidence-based home visiting programs in target communities. To receive these funds, the Idaho MIECHV program was required to develop a:

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Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Information for Policy Makers