Maternal, infant and early childhood homevisiting grant program - the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting (MIECHV) program aims to improve access to quality healthcare for mothers…

The Virgin Islands Department of Health received a $1,658,857 Project Grant award dated September 30, 2025, under the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program (CFDA 93.870), administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The award supports the delivery of evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with young children in at-risk communities throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands through September 29, 2027. The grantee will implement two evidence-based home visiting models—Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and Healthy Families America (HFA)—along with wraparound family support services designed to improve maternal and child health outcomes, increase healthcare access, and strengthen the home visiting workforce in underserved areas.

The project aims to serve 104 families by 2026 while addressing elevated rates of preterm births and low birth weights among lower-income populations, as well as related challenges including poverty, substance use, and mental health conditions. Key deliverables include expanding partnerships with at least two additional healthcare providers to increase referrals, conducting a minimum of three community outreach events annually, and providing staff training in cultural competency and trauma-informed care. These comprehensive support services will promote healthier outcomes for mothers and children while enhancing service delivery through respectful, evidence-based care that responds to the diverse needs of the populations served.

Maternal, infant and early childhood homevisiting grant program - the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting (MIECHV) program aims to improve access to quality healthcare for mothers and children, support positive maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthen the home visiting workforce. This initiative will increase family participation in evidence-based home visiting models and broaden community health outreach in underserved areas through the expansion of services offered by the nurse-family partnership (NFP). The program will support initiatives that enhance respectful and effective care by training staff to better understand and respond to the diverse needs of the individuals we serve. We will address the challenges many families face including limited healthcare access, economic hardships, and barriers to wellness by offering comprehensive support services designed to promote healthier outcomes for mothers and children. Problem: our community continues to experience significant challenges in maternal and child health. These include elevated rates of preterm births and low birth weights, particularly among families with lower incomes. We also aim to respond to related concerns such as poverty, substance use, and mental health conditions that affect many households. Purpose: to improve maternal and child health outcomes, enhance service delivery, and ensure all mothers and children receive consistent, high-quality support by implementing two evidence-based home visiting models-nurse-family partnership (NFP) and healthy families america (HFA)-along with wraparound family support services. Goals and objectives: goal: improve access to quality healthcare and increase enrollment in the NFP and HFA programs to serve 104 families by 2026. Objectives: partner with two additional healthcare providers to increase referrals. Conduct at least three independent or collaborative community outreach events annually. Provide all staff with training in cultural sensitivity and inclusive care practices within six months of hiring. Expand workforce capacity by recruiting and training new home visitors within the next year. Offer competitive compensation and annual professional development to attract and retain qualified staff. Approach: the program will utilize eligible, evidence-based home visiting models, including NFP and HFA. The NFP model supports first-time mothers and their children, offering services from pregnancy through the child's second birthday. The HFA model serves families experiencing challenges such as single parenthood, financial hardship, and histories of trauma or abuse. HFA services begin during pregnancy or shortly after birth (before the child is three months old) and continue until the child turns three. Communities identified through the statewide needs assessment includes low-income families, teen mothers, and those affected by substance use, mental health challenges, or other risk factors will be prioritized. The proposed caseload includes 104 family slots in FY26 and 120 in FY27. Matching funds will support the expansion of services through the hiring of additional staff and increased enrollment capacity. These funds will also be used to provide essential family support supplies and host family engagement activities. Staff development will be prioritized through training programs to enhance home visiting expertise, including model-specific training, CPR/AED/first aid certification, and lactation support training. Matching funds will further be used to maintain contracts with both NFP and HFA. The program intends to utilize the full unobligated matching waiver of $199,999 to support these efforts.