Sunday, May 18, 2025
5/18/2025
Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Homevisiting Grant Program - The purpose of the Texas MIECHV project is to support comprehensive home visiting programs and early childhood systems in Texas communities with demonstrated need to strengthen families and improve maternal and child health outcomes. The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) division proposes to leverage federal and state resources to continue building broad, sustainable home visiting programs and systems in high-need communities, as identified by a complex risk analysis. The goals of this grant are to: 1) provide effective, evidence-based home visiting services in targeted, at-risk communities that meet local needs and achieve the Health Resources and Services Administration performance measures regarding: maternal and newborn health, child maltreatment and injury prevention, school readiness; domestic violence screening, family self-sufficiency, and coordinated referrals; 2) develop early childhood systems, improve coordination, facilitate access, and promote comprehensive services to address social determinants of health and improve outcomes for young children and families; 3) provide training, technical assistance, and CQI support to enhance the quality of home visiting services; and 4) provide data collection support and evaluation to enhance the quality of home visiting. Funds from this grant will continue to support 22 communities at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes, with the intention to use new state general revenue and MIECHV base funding to grow capacity in exiting communities and expand to serve 7-10 new at-risk communities. All communities were identified through a combination of risk modeling and qualitative investigations that identified 59 high-risk counties in the state as priorities for home visiting programs. DFPS-DFPS-PEI uses a Request for Application (RFA) process to offer grants to LIAs to serve communities identified in the statewide needs assessment. Applicants select program models that meet Health and Human Services criteria for evidence of effectiveness as required by HRSA. Applicants may select multiple program models as well as use a combination of program models with families, avoiding concurrent dual enrollment, to support a continuum of home visiting services that meets families’ specific needs. Texas MIECHV local implementing agencies currently implement one or more of the following evidence-based models: Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP); Parents as Teachers (PAT); Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY); and Healthy Families America (HFA); Promoting First Relationships (PFR); and Safecare Augmented, based on the needs of the community. Family Connects will continue to serve as a referral and screening mechanism for four LIAs. PEI anticipates serving approximately 4,168 families in FY 2024. This estimate will grow based on expansion to new communities beginning spring 2024, made possible with increased general revenue and MIECHV base funding. Communities will build early childhood partnerships that support comprehensive early childhood systems and referral pathways. DFPS-PEI requires grantees to lead or engage with a local or regional coalition of parents and caregivers, community organizations, providers, businesses, and institutions who share a common goal of supporting healthy early childhood development, promoting maternal health, strengthening families and family supports, preventing child abuse and neglect, promoting school readiness and early learning, promoting caregiver mental health, or a combination of these. Coalitions may be population or issue focused or have a subcommittee or task force to promote awareness and address goals. Coalition and community coordination and activities should lead to improved community conditions, services, and outcomes.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).