The Maryland Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in partnership with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).  These federal dollars fund states, territories, and tribal entities to develop and implement evidence-based, voluntary family support programs that best meet the needs of their communities.   

Evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) is a voluntary early childhood strategy that can enhance parenting and promote the growth and development of young children. EBHV programs are focused, individualized and culturally competent services for expectant parents, young children and their families. These programs are made available in the home and help families strengthen attachment, provide optimal development for their children, promote health and safety, and reduce the risk for child maltreatment.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) established a new program under Title V-Section 511 entitled the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. MIECHV serves at risk communities and families by:

 

Funding granted to states must be allocated to communities at highest risk, as identified through a comprehensive statewide needs assessment. These grants may only support evidence-based home visiting programs that meet specific federal criteria. States may opt to allocate up to 25% of funding for 'promising' home visiting models that do not meet federal criteria, but such programs must be rigorously evaluated to become evidence-based. The 2010 needs assessment was conducted as part of a federal requirement for funding.  An updated needs assessment was completed and submitted for federal approval on October 1, 2020. The 2020 needs assessment narrative and supporting data* are pending federal approval.  An executive summary of the 2020 needs assessment provides a brief overview. 

As of 2020, HRSA and the ACF have identified 19 programs that meet federal evidence-based criteria. A full list may be found here. To assure that these models are faithfully replicated, states must obtain letters of agreement/approval from the developers of any model selected.

 

Seven evidence-based home visiting programs are in use in Maryland: Nurse-Family Partnership, Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), Early Head Start, Family Connects and Attachment Biobehavioral Catch-Up. Maryland MIECHV supports 14 home visiting sites that utilize Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership and Family Connects.