The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) was awarded a $5,747,152 Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on September 30, 2024. The grant will fund evidence-based home visiting services for pregnant women and families with children up to 5 years old in 12 high-risk counties in Missouri, with plans to expand to additional at-risk counties in the future. The project aims to build state and local infrastructure for home visiting, identify community needs, and provide comprehensive services to improve outcomes for families in these at-risk areas. Key activities include implementing evidence-based home visiting models such as Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Nurse Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers, as well as providing professional development to strengthen supports for families. This two-year grant project will run through September 29, 2026.