Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced the approval of the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act (H.R.8876). Cosponsored by Higgins, this legislation provides increased funding to support home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes.
“Maternal and early childhood support have a direct impact on long-term health and wellness. Unfortunately, many new families living in underserved communities do not always have the resources to ensure that their children will thrive,” said Congressman Higgins. “Home visits are a powerful tool, and this legislation will improve the reach of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. It will provide critical funding and resources to help families in Western New York and across the country prosper long into the future.”
The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program supports pregnant people and parents with young children who live in communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. Families can choose to participate in home visiting programs, and partner with health, social services, and child development professionals to set and achieve goals that improve health and well-being.
In 2022, the New York State Department of Health received over $8.6 million through the MIECHV program for programs across the state. The funding supports home visiting programs across the state, including more than 25 in Erie and Niagara Counties. A list of the local programs is supporting new families is available on the New York State Department of Health website.
Named in honor of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who played an important role in advancing this bipartisan bill, it will reauthorize the MIECHV) program through 2027, providing $500 million in grant funding increasing annually to $800 million in 2027. The MIECHV program aims to improve maternal and child health, prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce crime and domestic violence, increase family education level and earning potential, promote children’s development and readiness to participate in school, and connect families to community resources and supports. Under this legislation changes to the program include increasing the percentage of funds reserved for tribal entities, the establishment of a publicly available dashboard that reports program outcomes, and allowances for virtual home visits.
The bill is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, First Five Years Fund, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, Save the Children, and Zero to Three.
Now approved by the House, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration.
