What is Home Visiting?
Evidence-based home visiting programs recognize that parents are children’s first teachers, but sometimes, parents and others who raise children look for help. Far too many of Pennsylvania’s youngest children live in poverty and experience poor education and health outcomes.
Voluntary home visiting programs help parents and others raising children with the supports necessary to improve child development and school readiness, child health, family economic self-sufficiency, linkages and referrals, maternal health, positive parenting practices, reductions in child maltreatment, and reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence and crime. During home visits, nurses and other professionals visit with women, families, and children—some as early as pregnancy to promote positive birth outcomes—to provide parent education and support, ultimately promoting child health, well-being, learning, and development.
In 2022, eight evidence-based home visiting models were operating in Pennsylvania using public (state and/or federal) and private funds to support their programs. Each model has distinct characteristics and meets families’ unique experiences in different ways.
Does Home Visiting Work?
Yes! Evidence-based home visiting is a research-proven tool to support the development and safety of our most vulnerable children and their families.
The term “evidence-based” refers to home visiting models whose services are proven effective by research with evidence that supports a child’s healthy development. Information related to each home visiting model’s evidence has been evaluated and documented within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) at http://homvee.acf.hhs.gov.
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