Briefing Recognizes Importance of Home Visiting Programs

A congressional briefing held Wednesday, November 16, recognized the importance of investing in evidence-based home visitation programs. The Pew Home Visiting Campaign in conjunction with U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Todd Platts (R-PA) hosted the briefing to show the significant impact of state and federal investments in home visiting programs.

"This is a golden moment in early childhood development and parent support," Pew Home Visiting Campaign director Libby Doggett said at the briefing. "The federal government has outlined what states need to do to maximize the benefits these programs provide, and states are stepping up making improvements needed to  build strong home visiting programs backed by research.  The federal-state partnership on home visiting programs is off to a tremendous start."

Event themes focused on the power of evidence-based prevention policies, why states have invested in home visiting, and the impact of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program grant on state efforts.

Speakers included:

•  Libby Doggett, director, The Pew Home Visiting Campaign 
•  Meredith Matone, MHS CHES, research associate, PolicyLab, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 
•  Karen Guskin, Ph.D., director of Research and Evaluation, Parents as Teachers 
•  Michele Ridge, former first lady of Pennsylvania, Member, National Board of Directors for Nurse-Family Partnership 
•  Robert Frein, bureau director of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning Departments of Education & Public Welfare 
•  Sarita Rogers, associate director of programs / director of Newborn Home Visiting, Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund