Congress Extends Home Visiting Program

MIECHV funds home visiting programs for families in need. Kris Perry is the executive director of the First Five Years Fund, a nonprofit that works to increase federal investments in early learning programs. She says the voluntary program offers services some families wouldn’t receive.

“Parents, particularly with really young children, particularly if it’s their first child, are in a really new and sometimes difficult time in their life, and they don’t always have a caregiver, friend, parent, neighbor who can give them advice and support,” she says.    

Georgia has received millions of dollars through MIECHV to support programs such as Parents as Teachers and Healthy Families America. The former works with families to improve parenting skills. The latter works with families with young children to prevent child abuse. 

Perry says home visits can also make parents aware of services available to them. 

“Home visiting is the perfect place to deliver information, but it’s also a great way to encourage families to seek other support and services, such as nutrition programs, reading programs, early education or preschool programs,” Perry says. “So, you can start getting the parent ready for these other supports that the family’s going to need.”

Education advocates say those early years shouldn’t be ignored. Ruth Saxton is an assistant professor of early childhood education at Georgia State University. During a March interview, Saxton said brain and language development and social and emotional skills are all formed early on.

“These are years not to be wasted and waiting until formal schooling, but really making sure that the care and education received supports their needs and development, so that later schooling builds on those foundations,” she said.  

MIECHV funding was scheduled to end in September. Congress approved a six-month extension, renewing it through March of 2015.