National Home Visiting Resource Center in the News
The National Home Visiting Resource Center (NHVRC) is highlighted in a recent Hechinger Report article that examines the impact of home visiting in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Senior research associate Allison Meisch is quoted in her role as deputy project director for the NHVRC, which provides comprehensive home visiting information to support sound decisions in policy and practice. The article notes that more than 18 million pregnant women and families with children under 6 could benefit from home visiting, with nearly 10 million considered high priority. The data come from the 2017 Home Visiting Yearbook and data supplement, two NHVRC publications offering a comprehensive look at home visiting at the state and national levels.
Outcomes were positive among families who participated in the Hillsborough County home visiting programs:
- Child abuse and neglect rates were nearly nonexistent.
- Nearly all children were up to date with immunizations.
- Repeat pregnancies within 2 years were low.
- A high percentage of mothers tried breastfeeding.
“The article captures home visiting’s promise, particularly as part of a system of support,” Meisch says. “That includes screening participants for concerns like depression and developmental issues and encouraging them to seek related services as needed.”
Support for the NHVRC is provided by the Heising-Simons Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.