Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Research Programs

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Research Programs are designed to: increase knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of voluntary home visiting programs, using random assignment designs to the maximum extent feasible. Research relating to maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting services will be conducted to advancing knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs designed to improve life outcomes among mothers, infants, young children, and families who reside in at risk communities. Research and evaluation activities include consultation with independent researchers, State officials, and developers and providers of home visiting programs on topics such as research design and administrative data matching. The Home Visiting Research Programs include the Home Visiting Research Network.

As cited in 42 CFR Part 51a.3(b), only public or nonprofit institutions of higher learning and public or private nonprofit agencies engaged in research or in programs relating to maternal and child health and/or services for children with special health care needs may apply for grants, contracts or cooperative agreements for research in maternal and child health services or in services for children with special health care needs. Entities directly involved in the operation of home visiting programs are not eligible to apply.

Funded research should benefit MIECHV awardees by increasing knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs.

Applicants should review the individual HRSA notice of funding opportunity issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package.

Home Visiting Research (Project Grants): Assistance can potentially be used to conduct applied research relating to maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting services which show promise of advancing knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs designed to improve life outcomes among mothers, infants, young children, and families who reside in at risk communities. Research and evaluation activities include consultation with independent researchers, State officials, and developers and providers of home visiting programs on topics including research design and administrative data matching. Funds are to be used for research and evaluation activities. Home Visiting Research Network (Cooperative Agreement): Assistance can be used to: • Support a network of home visiting researchers, practitioners, and other key stakeholder to lead collaborative efforts designed to improve the implementation and effectiveness of maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs through: (a) research on the components of effective interventions, and (b) research targeted to improving the delivery of home visiting services; these partners will utilize the national research agenda to actively guide the Network's implementation of research studies through both MCHB and external funding sources; • Advance the methods of studying the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs; • Develop approaches to data sharing that will expedite the translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures; • Disseminate critical information and foster continued education activities on its research findings to inform researchers, professionals, policy makers, other stakeholders in the home visiting field, and the public; • Provide a research environment that is supportive of advancing home visiting research through: facilitating mentoring relationships between faculty members and emerging researchers; and encouraging active communication, networking, and collaboration among researchers.

Approved projects are awarded a project period of up to three years pending satisfactory awardee performance, the availability of appropriated funds, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All competitive applications will be reviewed internally by grants management officials (business and financial review) and program staff (technical review) for eligibility, completeness, accuracy, and compliance with the requirements outlined in the notice of funding opportunity. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an independent objective review committee for review and rating based on the program elements and review criteria presented in the notice of funding opportunity. Based on the advice of the independent objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by an electronic Notice of Award.

Contact the Headquarters or Regional Office as appropriate for application deadlines or view the specific notice of funding opportunity.