These voluntary programs match parents with trained professionals to provide information and support during pregnancy and throughout their child’s first years—a critical developmental period. Although home visiting programs vary in goals and content of services, in general, they combine parenting and health care education, child abuse prevention, and early intervention and education services for young children and their families.
Although home visiting programs have existed for decades, in 2010 Congress established the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) to provide federal funds to states and Tribal entities to support voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to at-risk families. MIECHV is authorized by Title V of the Social Security Act and is jointly administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration for Children and Families.
