PURPOSE: Beginning in FY22, the North Carolina MIECHV program will continue the coordination of an effective statewide planning and implementation system through a strong alliance with key partners in early childhood services at the State and local levels that ensures all children grow up in environments that are safe and supportive, and that maximally promote each child’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health.
GOALS/ OBJECTIVES:
1. Objective 1: By September 29, 2024, maintain 100% of the existing strong and effective leadership of the Home Visiting and Parenting Education (HVPE) Collaborative and other partnerships to enhance the implementation of the NC MIECHV Program at both the State and local levels.
2. Objective 2: By September 29, 2024, the State MIECHV team will utilize a public health approach, with an emphasis on collaboration and coordination within at-risk communities, to provide evidence-based home visiting to improve outcomes for families within 100% of current sites.
3. Objective 3: By September 29, 2024, develop a strong support network to successfully assist 7 out of 7 local-implementing agencies (LIAs) with the implementation of evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) models to meet 100% fidelity requirements.
4. Objective 4: By September 29, 2024, state MIECHV staff will provide targeted technical support, consultation, and training to 100% of the MIECHV LIAs to increase the capacity of their local partnerships and to coordinate, improve, and expand the delivery of early childhood programs and services.
5. Objective 5: By September 29, 2024, maintain existing coordination with 100% of current local service providers within at-risk communities, as defined by the 2010 NC Needs Assessment (NA).
6. Objective 6: By September 29, 2024, collaborate with the MIECHV LIAs to develop program-specific mechanisms that ensure accountability with 100% of the program standards and measurement to track identified outcome indicators.
METHODOLOGY: NC MIECHV will continue its ongoing efforts to target low-income, first-time pregnant and parenting families, as identified in the original 2010 NA in Bertie, Bladen, Buncombe, Burke, Columbus, Durham, Edgecombe, Gaston, Halifax, Hertford, Mitchell, Nash, Northampton, Robeson, Scotland, and Yancey Counties during FY 22-24 with the NFP home visiting model. Low-income mothers and families at risk for toxic stress, child abuse, and neglect will continue to be served through the HFA home visiting model in Burke, Durham, Mitchell, and Yancey counties for FY 22-24. NC’s total proposed caseload of family slots within the grant period is 532. As of 03/31/22, NC has served 438 families since 10/1/2021 and 289 MIECHV children are currently enrolled in the program. Both home visiting models ensure appropriate linkages and referral networks are in place through regular engagement and collaboration with Early Childhood and Pregnancy Service providers and community partners through training events, participation in local collaborative meetings, and linking families to agencies when additional supports are required.