Address: PO Box 142002, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Project Director: Elizabeth VanSant-Webb
Contact Number: (385) 271.7231
Email Address: elizabethvw@utah.gov
Website Address: www.homevisiting.utah.gov
Grant Funds Requested: $3,129,808
Purpose: Utah’s Home Visiting Services and Support Program (HVSSP) promotes evidence-based home visiting to improve: 1) the health and developmental outcomes of at-risk pregnant women and young children up to kindergarten entry, 2) ensure children live in safe and nurturing environments, 3) strengthen parent-child relationships, and 4) to promote coordination of services for at-risk pregnant and young parenting families.
Goal(s) and Objectives: Utah’s HVSSP promotes voluntary high-quality home visiting for at-risk families with young children in Utah by supporting an evidence-based home visiting model that empowers and creates positive change in the lives of families at risk. There are three major goals for this project. The goal first is to improve outcome tracking for MIECHV data and performance measures. This will be accomplished by:
Objective 1.1: By October 31 of each year, ensure that 100% of current staff are trained on MIECHV data and performance measures.
Objective 1.2: By January 2023, ensure that Utah’s performance measurement plan is reflective of the most relevant screenings for Utah’s home visiting families.
Objective 1.3: By September 2023, decrease missing data by 10% for each performance measure.
Objective 1.4: Ensure and support 100% of LIAs to participate in the state-wide CQI process by September 2024.
Utah’s second goal for this project is to improve coordination of community services and referrals for at-risk families at the state and local level. This will be accomplished by:
Objective 2.1: By September 2024, identify and improve collaborative partnerships.
Objective 2.2: By September 2024, establish MOUs with relevant partners.
Utah’s third goal for this project is to increase capacity for home visiting in Utah through collaboration with statewide early childhood systems. This will be accomplished by:
Objective 3.1: By September 2024, identify various sources for potential funding for home visiting and potential for braiding funds.
Objective 3.2: By September 2024, establish relationships with potential sustainable funds for home visiting.
Methodology
Utilizing the Parents as Teachers curriculum and model, trained parent educators partner with mothers and families to improve pregnancy outcomes, parent-child relationships, family health, and child development. Parent educators connect families with information, community resources, and provide support and encouragement to help families gain economic self-sufficiency and to support children’s optimal development during the early years of life.
OHV plans to continue implementing the Parents as Teachers home visiting model in seven Utah counties: Carbon, Emery, Grand, Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber. These counties were identified as “high need” in the 2020 Statewide Needs Assessment approved by HRSA.
The current maximum caseload for Utah’s MIECHV-funded home visiting sites is 529. The total proposed caseload for this grant period will be 508 enrolled families per year.
OHV will continue to create linkages and referral networks with community resources, state and local supports, and organizations like Early Childhood Utah, Baby Watch Early Intervention (IDEA Part C), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the Division of Child and Family Services, and community partnerships. Through partnerships with these programs, OHV will work to raise the profile of home visiting across the state to strengthen referral networks.