Evidence-based home visiting programs provide coaching and support to vulnerable families throughout pregnancy and a child’s early years of life. Home visiting is relatively inexpensive and is worth the investment: These programs reduce the likelihood of costly outcomes and lead to significant cost savings to society.
Only 10 percent of eligible families are served by the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, or MIECHV, the federal home visiting program. MIECHV funding will run out in September 2017 if Congress does not reauthorize it. Policymakers must extend MIECHV and expand funding to ensure that more families gain access to these important programs.
Leila Schochet is the Research Associate for the Early Childhood Policy team at the Center for American Progress.