Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant

The goals of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV Program) are to: (1) strengthen and improve the programs and activities carried out under Title V of the Social Security Act; (2) improve coordination of services fo

The goals of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV Program) are to: (1) strengthen and improve the programs and activities carried out under Title V of the Social Security Act; (2) improve coordination of services for at-risk communities; and (3) identify and provide comprehensive services to improve outcomes for eligible families who reside in at-risk communities. The MIECHV Program supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for pregnant women and parents with young children up to kindergarten entry. The MIECHV Program builds upon decades of scientific research that shows home visits conducted by a nurse, social worker, or other trained professional during pregnancy and in the first years of a child's life improves the lives of children and families. Home visiting helps prevent childhood and adult chronic disease and behavioral health conditions, supports families to prevent child abuse and neglect, promotes child development and school readiness, and boosts families' economic self-sufficiency. Consistent with the program's authorizing statute MIECHV funds provide grants to 56 states and jurisdictions through base and matching funds. State and jurisdiction grantees conduct statewide needs assessments to identify eligible at-risk communities, reach statutorily-defined priority populations, and choose one or more of the 24 approved evidence-based home visiting models or identify promising approaches that will best meet the specific needs of their states and communities.

Eligible entities include those currently funded under the MIECHV Program: 48 states, 2 nonprofit organizations serving Florida, and North Dakota, and 6 territories and jurisdictions serving District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. For those states that have elected not to participate in MIECHV, nonprofit organizations with an established record of providing early childhood home visiting programs or initiatives in a state or several states are eligible to apply to carry out programs in those states.

As directed in statute, awardees must give priority in providing services under the MIECHV program to the following: • Eligible families who reside in communities in need of such services, as identified in the statewide needs assessment required under subsection 511(b)(1)(A); • Low-income eligible families; • Eligible families with pregnant women who have not attained age 21; • Eligible families that have a history of child abuse or neglect or have had interactions with child welfare services; • Eligible families that have a history of substance abuse or need substance abuse treatment; • Eligible families that have users of tobacco products in the home; • Eligible families that are or have children with low student achievement; • Eligible families with children with developmental delays or disabilities; and • Eligible families that include individuals who are serving or formerly served in the Armed Forces, including such families that have members of the Armed Forces who have had multiple deployments outside of the United States.

Program supports pregnant women and parents with young children who live in communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. Families choose to participate in home visiting programs, and partner with health, social service, and child development professionals to set and achieve goals that improve their health and well-being.

Program supports pregnant women and parents with young children who live in communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. Families choose to participate in home visiting programs, and partner with health, social service, and child development professionals to set and achieve goals that improve their health and well-being.

Refer to the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Awards are made annually, in accordance with the project period method of awarding grants.

Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Evaluation criteria vary based on the grant/cooperative agreement program. Refer to criteria included in the notice of funding opportunity for each specific program. Based on the recommendations of the objective review committee for competitive applications, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Award.

Final decisions are made 4 to 6 months after receipt of applications.

Formula grants were awarded on an annual basis through FY 2022. Base grant funds using a formula in statute are awarded on an annual basis beginning in FY 2023. Matching grant funds based on a formula and contingent on state's non-federal matching funds will be awarded on an annual basis beginning in FY 2024. Cooperative agreements are competitively awarded every three to five years. After initial awards, annual noncompetitive awards may be made contingent upon the submission of noncompetitive applications/progress reports and availability of funds and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government.