Federal Funding to Boost Home Visit Services for Pregnant Residents

Home visiting services for pregnant Connecticut residents and the parents of young children will get a boost through a $10.8 million allocation of federal funding to the Office of Early Childhood, the state’s congressional delegation announced Monday.

The funding stems from 2022 legislation supported by every member of the state’s congressional delegation and will help to pay for evidence-based home visiting services under the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson’s office.

Larson, a Democrat who represents Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District, said he co-authored the legislation on the Ways and Means Committee in honor of the late Rep. Jackie Walorski, a Republican who represented Indiana.

“No parent should go without a support system,” Larson said. “The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program improves health outcomes for families, sets up kids for success, and connects parents with critical resources in their communities to thrive.”

The MIEHCV Program supports more than 1,200 households in Connecticut and has helped provide more than 19,000 home visits across the state, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Home visits under the program in Connecticut have led to improvements in developmental screening rates and “well child visits” that help ensure the health of children by preventing illness and promoting early identification of concerns, according to the agency.

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democrat who represents the state’s 5th Congressional District, said she has advocated for the program due to its critical role in ensuring the lifelong success of Connecticut children.

“This $10.8 million award to the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood will provide evidence-based services to pregnant women and parents of young children statewide as they navigate formative years and prepare for kindergarten,” Hayes said. “I am delighted to see this federally-led program continue to support families in the Fifth District and across Connecticut.”

Posted by Hugh McQuaid