Ten states including Washington State received grants to provide early childhood support and home visits to families who volunteer to receive these services, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. Washington received $6.6 million of the nearly $72 million in funding announced today will allow states to expand or establish their home visiting program. These awards are part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) created by the Affordable Care Act.

“Home visits from an experienced counselor can help provide skills and links to important services and early childhood education,” said Secretary Sebelius.

Today’s awards include states that have demonstrated a commitment to operating successful early childhood systems for pregnant women, parents, caregivers and children from birth-to-eight years of age.  The awards also include states that are developing new home visiting programs, using proven strategies, to support families and improve health and developmental outcomes.  Read more…

For more information on HRSA’s MIECHV program, please visit mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit www.HealthCare.gov.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.

Source:  US Department of Health & Human Services, News Release – April 3, 2012