- | Article
Purpose – This evaluation describes efforts taken by MIECHV administrators and staff during the pandemic using data collected from 60 MIECHV staff surveys and nine statewide weekly focus groups.
Description – The Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Initiative funds perinatal home
visiting for pregnant women and families with infants throughout the state. Florida MIECHV has shown resilience to disasters and times of crises in the past, while generating a culture of adaptation and continuous quality improvement among local implementing agencies. Florida MIECHV responded to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis within the frst few days of the first reported case in Florida by providing guidance on virtual home visits and working remotely.
Assessment – Findings highlight the role of administrative leadership and communication, staf willingness/morale, logistical considerations, and the needs of enrolled families who face hardships during the pandemic such as job loss, limited supplies, food insecurity, technology limitations, and stress. Home visitors support enrolled families by connecting them with resources, providing public health education and delivering evidence-based home visiting curricula virtually. They also recognized the emotional burden surrounding COVID-19 impacts and uncertainties along with achieving work-life balance by caring for their own children.
Conclusion- This evaluation helped in understanding the impact of the pandemic on this maternal and child health program and fundamentals of transition to virtual home visiting services. Virtual home visiting appears to be feasible and provides an essential connection to supports for families who may not otherwise have the means or knowledge to access them. (author abstract)
- | Planning Tool
This needs assessment is an update to the 2010 needs assessment initiated by MIECHV to examine how the current system of home visitation services in New Hampshire meets the needs of the community and identify gaps in services. Findings from the New Hampshire Home Visitor Survey, which aimed to capture the perspective of home visitors regarding the needs of New Hampshire families, as well as understand the home visitors’ perceived attitudes regarding the benefits and challenges of working in the field, are presented. (author summary)
- | Brief
This brief summarizes available research on trauma and home visiting to address why home visiting programs should implement a trauma0informed approach, what it means to implement a trauma-informed approach, how home visiting programs can implement a trauma-informed approach, and the implications for research and practice. (author summary)
- | Brief
In this brief, we use data collected in spring 2018 from a nationally representative sample to describe Early Head Start teachers’ and home visitors’ characteristics, the program activities (or processes) they are part of, and how well their programs operate (or function). We also examine how staff-specific program processes and program functioning are associated with job satisfaction for teachers and home visitors. (author summary)
- | Blog
This commentary offers strategies to states for utilizing MIECHV funds to strengthen services for children and caregivers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- | Brief
This brief summarizes findings on program management practices from the Home Visiting Career Trajectories project—a national descriptive study of home visiting staff experiences and perceptions of the field from 2018. (author summary)
- | Brief
This brief outlines trends in salaries for home visitors and supervisors, across Illinois Department for Human Services Division of Early Childhood (IDHS DEC) funded home visiting programs. (author summary).
- | Report
In May 2020, the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) received an award through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to support Maternal and Child Telehealth (TH) Capacity for Public Health Systems. The first step in this process was to rapidly understand immediate needs of jurisdictions by gathering information directly from program representatives about current program changes and implementation of TH solutions in response to evolving population needs, as well as jurisdiction capacity to sustain and/or expand the TH system to maintain MCH services and systems. This brief summarizes themes emerging from analysis of the key informant interviews. (author summary)
- | Brief
Provides information about the specific self-care strategy of Pause-Reset-Nourish, or PRN. This fact sheet acknowledges the levels of stress that professionals may be currently experiencing and offers a way to address unwanted symptoms and promote and replenish wellbeing and enhance resilience. (author summary)
- | Brief
This brief describes the research base around innovative, efficient, and cost-effective approaches that Texas could implement to expand HV and help more families thrive. The innovations described below align with the Texas Department of Protection and Early Intervention’s (PEI) goals to increase funding for prevention services, enhance program implementation, integrate community-level resources, rely on research, and incorporate a public health framework. (author summary)