Home Visiting - Families Receiving Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) Services in Pennsylvania

Evidence-Based Home visiting (EBHV) involves trained professionals, such as nurses or social workers, providing in-home services to expectant parents and families in order to foster healthy growth and development during early childhood.[1] EBHV is free to families and is funded through a combination of state and federal sources. High-quality home visiting programs have been linked to positive outcomes for children, especially those that grow up in households experiencing challenges related to teen or single parenthood, maternal depression, or lack of social and financial resources.[2] Specifically, research has found that home visiting improves child and maternal health, increases the likelihood of school readiness, bolsters family economic self-sufficiency, reduces child maltreatment, supports positive parenting practices, and lower the chances of juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime.[3] Nationally, EBHV programs reached approximately 278,000 families in 2021, though many more are eligible and could benefit from these services.[4] In Pennsylvania, there are currently eight federally recognized EBHV models with varying eligibility requirements.[5] Certain models only provide services to low-income households that are below 200% of the federal poverty line, while others have no income limits and serve all families regardless of socioeconomic status.

Evidence-Based Home visiting (EBHV) involves trained professionals, such as nurses or social workers, providing in-home services to expectant parents and families in order to foster healthy growth and development during early childhood.[1] EBHV is free to families and is funded through a combination of state and federal sources. High-quality home visiting programs have been linked to positive outcomes for children, especially those that grow up in households experiencing challenges related to teen or single parenthood, maternal depression, or lack of social and financial resources.[2] Specifically, research has found that home visiting improves child and maternal health, increases the likelihood of school readiness, bolsters family economic self-sufficiency, reduces child maltreatment, supports positive parenting practices, and lower the chances of juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime.[3] Nationally, EBHV programs reached approximately 278,000 families in 2021, though many more are eligible and could benefit from these services.[4] In Pennsylvania, there are currently eight federally recognized EBHV models with varying eligibility requirements.[5] Certain models only provide services to low-income households that are below 200% of the federal poverty line, while others have no income limits and serve all families regardless of socioeconomic status.