Project Title: Iowa MIECHV Formula X10 FY2023
Applicant Name: Iowa Department of Public Health
Address: 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50319
Project Director Name: Janet Nickell Horras
Contact Phone Numbers: 515-954-0647 (voice)
E-Mail Address: Janet.Horras@idph.iowa.gov
Web Site Address: http://idph.iowa.gov/family-health/family-support
ANNOTATION: The primary purpose of this application is to provide evidence-based home visiting to at-risk families residing in communities with the greatest need.
PROBLEM: In communities across Iowa at-risk parents of young children do not have access to evidence-based home visiting in order to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn.
PURPOSE: The MIECHV formula funding provides for the continuation of evidence-based home visitation in 17 of Iowa’s at-risk communities. The MIECHV grant provides a platform in which local programs can improve the quality of home visitation services and increase coordination of services. Through the expansion of evidence- based home visiting services, statewide and local coordinated intake systems, and statewide data collection this funding seeks to increase the quality of home visiting services.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The project supports six goals: 1) Focus on at-risk and high needs children and their families, 2) Support continuous quality improvement activities that address community-identified barrier(s), 3) Strengthen leadership, collaboration and coordination of early childhood partners for the integration of a comprehensive Early Care, Health and Education System, 4) Informed decision-making for program development, public policy, and fiscal management at the state and local levels through the use of results accountability data, 5) Iowa home visiting professionals possess the core competencies required to be effective in their positions and 6) Iowa’s at risk families are partners in planning and implementing home visiting services. The goals will be accomplished through a variety of key activities including the provision of evidence-based home visiting, workforce wellness evaluation, home visitor expert panel and many other activities..
METHODOLOGY: Evidence-based models supported by MIECHV funding are Healthy Families America, Nurse Family Partnerships, and Parents as Teachers. The at-risk communities are Appanoose, Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Clinton, Des Moines, Fremont, Jefferson, Lee, Marshall, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Pottawattamie, Scott, Wapello, Webster and Woodbury Counties. The planned service capacity is 712 and current capacity is 649..