News Releases from Department of Health

Evidence shows that caring for moms during their pregnancy and for their keiki during their first few years of life, especially those with low incomes, helps improve the health of both the moms and their children, prevents child abuse and neglect, encourages positive parenting, promotes child development and enhances school-readiness.

That’s why the federal government continues to invest in children by supporting home visitation programs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the State of Hawaii an $8.43 million grant to expand its Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. Nationwide, HHS awarded $386 million to states, territories and nonprofit organizations.

The home visiting program is voluntary and evidence-based. Families who choose to participate can benefit with better health outcomes for their children. Home visits during pregnancy and a child’s life through age five can make a tremendous difference in the lives of children and their families.

Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established the grant program in 2010. The Hawaii State Department of Health received its first Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program grant in 2010 and used the funds to establish the Hawaii Home Visiting Network, which is a group of ten community based organizations that offer early identification and home visiting programs.

More than 1.4 million home visits have been conducted through the national Home Visiting Program, serving parents and children in 721 counties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories. In 2014, the Home Visiting Program served 115,000 parents and children. Nearly 80 percent of families participating in the program had household incomes at or below the 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

The Home Visiting Program is part of President Obama’s Early Learning Initiative that focuses on both high-quality infant and toddler care through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships and universal Pre-K to improve the essential foundations in early childhood for future healthy development and well-being.

The Home Visiting Program is part of President Obama’s Early Learning Initiative that focuses on both high-quality infant and toddler care through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships and universal Pre-K to improve the essential foundations in early childhood for future healthy development and well-being.