The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $10.97 million to the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
“This funding will reduce disparities in maternal and child health outcomes, prevent child abuse and neglect, and promote early childhood development and school readiness,” said DOH Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal.
“Home visiting improves the physical and emotional health and well-being of infants, children and their families—setting them up for a successful future.”
The New Jersey Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program supports pregnant women and families, particularly those considered at-risk.
It uses trained nurses and parent educators who provide parenting support through frequent in-home visits to pregnant women and families with young children.
“Last year, over 93% of families we served were supported in their homes with targeted programs to keep them safe, healthy and connected,” said Christine Norbut Beyer, Commissioner of DCF.
"The Home Visiting Program helps to empower and strengthen families – over 7,000 last year - and this grant award will help us to expand our reach.”
The three Home Visiting models in New Jersey are Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. Some 73,677 home visits were completed in the last fiscal year.
Currently funding is contracted by the DCF to 29 community-based organizations which provide evidence-based home visiting services in all 21 NJ counties.
Community-based Home Visiting services are available at your county Central Intake Hub and at the DCF website https://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/dfcp/index.html
For more information on HRSA's Home Visiting Program, visit http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting.